Múlaþing’s cultural policy 2024-2030
Publisher: Múlaþing.
Editor: Aðalheiður Borgþórsdóttir.
English translation: Katrín Alfa Snorradóttir
Design: Esther Ösp Gunnarsdóttir, Austurbrú.
Cover photo: Esther Ösp Gunnarsdóttir, Austurbrú. From The BRAS Festival 2022 in Selskógur.
In September 2022, Múlaþing assigned the development of an arts and cultural policy for the newly formed municipality to the Department of Labour and Culture.
Following Austurbrú’s workshop regarding a cultural policy for East Iceland, the development of an arts and cultural policy for Múlaþing began, and was led by Aðalheiður Borgþórsdóttir, director of cultural affairs, and Heiðdís Hólm Guðmundsdóttir and Jónína Brá Árnadóttir project managers of cultural affairs. Curators, directors, artists, and other arts and cultural enthusiasts were invited to a discussion about the museums and cultural institutions in Múlaþing.
Múlaþing is a newly formed municipality with great potential to grow and become one of the leading municipalities regarding creative fields, as well as regarding the development of culture and arts. Múlaþing aims to preserve and support this sector in various ways. Múlaþing wants to create a path for sustainable business, create jobs, and support the grassroots, as well as the fully developed and matured activities in the arts and creative industries.
Múlaþing wants to look at the big picture, let the residents have a say, and invite those who work in the field, to enforce an arts and cultural policy that most people can relate to.
The arts and cultural policy must be taken into consideration in the making of the municipality’s masterplan1 in particular when it comes to open areas. The preservation of cultural values must be considered, such as houses that have been listed due to their age, archaeological remains and other remains that are important to preserve and attend to i.a. as a part of culturally related tourism.
During the groundwork of the policy, various policies of other municipalities, East Iceland’s action plan, East Iceland’s regional plan, and Fljótsdalshérað’s cultural policy were taken into consideration. In addition, Iceland’s cultural policy from 2013, Menningarsókn – action plan until 2030, The Global Goals, and The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child were considered as the policy was written.
Thanks to those who took the time to attend meetings to discuss arts and culture in Múlaþing, and by doing so contributed to the making of the policy. Special thanks to those who have championed the field of arts and culture in the multiplicity throughout the years, and thereby added value to life.
Múlaþing’s cultural policy was approved by the Regional Council on the 18th of June, 2024.
Aðalheiður Borgþórsdóttir, Jónína Brá Árnadóttir and Heiðdís Hólm Guðmundsdóttir
1 Skipulagsstofnun:
The primary objective of Múlaþing’s arts and cultural policy is to provide all residents with equal opportunities to enjoy and/or participate in creative activities. The policy also aims to establish diverse facilities for artistic creation and to make it enticing for artists to live and work in each of Múlaþing’s towns. Múlaþing’s cultural policy is based on four pillars that each supports its goals:
A lifetime of inclusion
Support for artists
Culture and arts in each town
Cultural heritage, cultural values, and museum policy
Culture and arts are significant industries that employ many people. Art creation is often based on research which leads to the development of new perspectives and knowledge about various subjects. Numerous residents contribute to the creative field by engaging in voluntary work, driven by their desire to create a diverse art and cultural life. The municipality willingly supports those efforts.
The cultural institutions that Múlaþing runs, either partially or wholly, have a pivotal role in enforcing the arts and cultural policy, as well as enhancing Múlaþing’s cultural life.
Sláturhúsið Cultural Centre is a key institution when it comes to implementing the arts and cultural policy, and it has its main emphasis on stage arts. Skaftfell Art Centre for Visual Arts also plays an important role, and gets moral and financial support from the municipality, even though they do not operate it. Two out of three cultural centres in East Iceland are in Múlaþing, they are both run according to a contract about arts and culture, between the government and the municipalities in East Iceland.
The East Iceland Heritage Museum, The District Archive of East Iceland, and Ríkaharðshús in Djúpivogur are the museums Múlaþing operates partially or wholly. Their role is to gather, preserve, research and share the history and culture of the area. The Technical Museum of East Iceland, which is a private foundation and gets financial support from Múlaþing, also plays an important role. The libraries in Egilsstaðir, Djúpivogur and Seyðisfjörður, are properties of the municipality. In addition to that, the municipality also runs community centres and cultural houses in various places within the municipality.
» Múlaþing emphasises that those who are within the cultural field, and accept support from the municipality, practice professionally and offer quality activities and services. The art and cultural policy is connected to the East Iceland’s action plan (Sóknaráætlun Austurlands)2 which takes the municipality’s plans into account when it defines certain projects in its planning. Múlaþing’s arts and cultural policy is Múlaþing’s supreme policy when it comes to the field of arts and culture and is written in accordance with the east of Iceland regional plan.3
» Múlaþing will keep the policy at hand when making operational and financial plans.
» The policy’s action plan will be reviewed annually in May and finalized alongside the municipality’s financial framework.
2 Austurbrú: East Iceland’s action plan
3 SSA: East Iceland regional plan 2022-2044
The municipality has been providing cultural grants twice a year since its formation.
In the years 2021-2024 (only the first allocation had finished in 2024 when this document was written) applications for grants for cultural projects had reached just under 92 million, however, the total cost of the projects is 375.843.044 ISK.
During these years, 148 projects have received grants for various cultural and arts events, adding up to a total of 34.603.000 ISK.
The necessity of cultural grants is unequivocal, they have allowed the grassroots to be supported within the municipality, as well as established events, and everything in between.
Múlaþing boasts a vibrant cultural community made up of various stakeholders, events and other factors:
Festivals and events
Days of Darkness
The Blue Church
Bræðslan Music Festival
LungA Festival
Hammond Festival
Ormsteiti Festival
BRAS Festival
Art without borders
The Blacksmith Festival
Skógardagurinn mikli
Cittaslow Sunday
Rainbow Parade
Art in the Light Festival
Rolling Snowball
Vor/Wiosna
Haustroði Autumn Festival
Jólakötturinn market
Rithöfundalestin
Tónlistarstundir
Summer in Fjarðaborg
Þorrablót
New Year’s
Fisherman’s Festival
The National Independence Day
Outdoor artworks
Tvísöngur
Eggin í Gleðivík
Útlínur
Símaklefinn
Frelsi
Cultural institutions and events facilities
Sláturhúsið, Culture Centre
Skaftfell, Art Centre for Visual arts
ARS LONGA, contemporary art museum
Álfakaffi
Kiosk108
Herðubíó
Herðubreið
Fjarðaborg
Langabúð
Valaskjálf
Iðavellir
Tungubúð
Arnórstaðir
Tehúsið
Gletta
Tankurinn
Skúlptúrgarðurinn
LungA folk school
Egilsstaðir College
Hallormsstaðaskóli
Ströndin studio
Community
LungA folk school
Hallormsstaðaskóli
Egilsstaðir College
Music schools
Preschools
Primary schools
Sagnabrunnur
Sögufélag Austurlands
The East Iceland Symphony orchestra
LungA festival – art workshops
Seyðisfjörður Theatre company
Fljótsdalshérað theatre Company
Choir activity
Bands
The East Iceland Artists Association
Museums and centres
The District Archive of East Iceland
The East Iceland Heritage Museum
Kjarvalshvammur
Libraries in Egilsstaðir, Seyðisfjörður, and Djúpivogur
Langabúð - Eysteinsstofa and Ríkharðssafn
Technical Museum of East Iceland
Publications
Poetry Enthusiasts’ society of East
Iceland
Múlaþing
Glettingur
Bóndavarðan
Austurfrétt / Austurglugginn
Workshops and studios
Heima
Skaftfell
Sláturhúsið
The Printing work of Seyðisfjörður
The fish-net production
Herðubreið
The goal for the year 2030: Cultural activities are accessible to everyone, whether it is for creation or participation in the cultural activities.
The cultural life reflects life’s diversity and is open to all, for everyone to understand their part in it, have equal access, and can participate on their terms.
Ways:
» Organised art activities for children and young people will be strengthened. The key to such development is that art activities are a common part of after-school activities within the municipality, and in co-operation with institutions and private practising artists.
» Cultural institutions of the municipality, and their partners in the field of culture and arts, have a key role in making a collective educational plan, as well as an events plan specially tailored to children at each school level.
» Múlaþing’s cultural institutions work in conjunction with the municipality’s equality plan4, as well as its cultural policy. The municipality has an ongoing and active conversation with its residents regarding culture. Institutions maintain a robust network of artists in the area.
» Museums and cultural institutions work on collaborative plans about how it is best to reach the different needs of individuals and groups to work against cultural differentiation and increase accessibility. Focus should be put on reaching marginalised groups, people with different backgrounds in languages and cultures, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
» Information about the supply of culture, cultural events, cultural institutions, opportunities, and support in the field of culture and art, is accessible to everyone, and there is an emphasis on reaching a diverse group of individuals. Cultural events held by the municipality’s institutions are promoted in a noticeable way and in a timely manner.
The Icelandic translation, inngilding, of the concept of inclusion is new. It means that people that might otherwise be excluded or marginalised, are guaranteed access to opportunities and resources.
4 Múlaþing: Equality plan
The goal for the year 2030: It is good to work as an artist in Múlaþing.
Artists living in the municipality are well taken care off. Diverse cultural activities are an important part of the municipality’s economy and have a wide derivative effect. Not only economically but also regarding health and wellbeing, creative activities, teamwork skills, local pride, powerful spirit, tolerance, and various other things, which make the municipality a desirable place to live in. The municipality celebrates newcomers and new projects by supporting those initiatives in various different ways. Cultural centres and other spaces support the municipality’s good appearance as to where people like to dwell and live. The surroundings encourage professionalism, and the creation of jobs in the arts and cultural field. Housing supports creativity, organisation, communication, and representation of arts.
Ways:
» Artists get fair wages for their contributions when they work for the municipality and its institutions. The municipality puts emphasis on buying work from local artists.
» Buildings owned by the municipality are accessible for cultural activities and opportunities to use buildings that are in abeyance will be considered.
» Múlaþing puts emphasis on that those who receive the municipality’s support uphold quality work practices and professional activities.
» People with professional knowledge in the relevant field work in the municipality’s cultural institutions. Professional knowledge is gathered from elsewhere as needed in order to support a professional cultural environment.
» Operational basis, and professionalism of cultural activities which have proven their validity is supported with long term contracts.
» The municipality supports amateur groups, and grassroot activities in the arts and cultural field by i.a. financial contributions in the form of grants. All art forms will hold the same weight.
» Folk art is given space to flourish.
The goal for the year 2030: Culture and arts are visible in each town of Múlaþing.
The municipality’s strength lies in its diversity and it nurtures the individuality, history, and cultural value of each of its towns. The areas cultural heritage is accessible both to the residents, and guests. Arts and aesthetics play an important part when shaping new public buildings and open spaces. Art works bring public places to life, make them stand out and improve the local spirit.
Initiative from residents is especially important and they have direct effect on the cultural life in their surroundings.
Ways:
» The arts and cultural festivals that happen annually in the towns of Múlaþing are supported.
» The municipality makes room for innovation sparked from the residents.
» Cultural buildings will be helped to run and build up facilities, innovation gets special support.
» Initiative in writing history is supported as much as possible at any given time. Each case is evaluated regarding its importance, financial support, and professional approach.
» Labels and information signs by places that hold cultural and historical importance are reviewed and updated both regularly and as necessary.
» The co-operation between towns of Múlaþing is strong and with a free flow of information. Partnership between cultural institutions and other partners has been strengthened.
» The co-operation and sharing of spaces, e.g. libraries, cultural centres, and community centres in installing exhibitions and concerts (workspaces, workshops, devices and tools) is powerful.
» Open areas in the care of the municipality are used for cultural activities, and their part in that field is clearly defined.
» Information about the usage, accessibility, and facilities of cultural spaces and open areas are accessible through Múlaþing’s media channels.
» A directory is kept for the artwork the municipality owns, there are also clear procedures for their preservation, maintenance, and all leasing is logged.
The goal for the year 2030: Múlaþing takes good care of its cultural heritage and communicates it through various channels to all groups of its community. Museums and centres operating in the municipality are supported and given appropriate housing suited to their operations. Múlaþing’s libraries are communal centres where everyone is welcome on their own terms, and no one is required to do anything. There is good a co-operation between the schools and museums in regard to education about the museums, courses, and more. It is a joint responsibility of the community to preserve the country’s cultural and natural heritage, encourage professional usage, and secure equal access to the heritage.
Ways:
Museums and centres:
» Museums and centres in Múlaþing preserve the cultural heritage of the area and ambitiously attend to all the basic related work, i.e. museums, preservation, documentation, research, and communication.
5
» Múlaþing’s museums actively participate in social discussions, show initiative, and create a dialogue about important social issues. Strong connection between museums, their resources, and the community, incorporate drive and create value.
» The museums focus on inclusion in their work in order to ensure access to culture and heritage for all residents of Múlaþing.
» Múlaþing’s museums hold an important position when it comes to education, understanding, and awareness of cultural and natural heritage. The key to this is the museums human resources.
» The museums have a powerful collaboration with various stakeholders, both domestically and abroad.
» Múlaþing’s museums are sociologically responsible, they incorporate sustainability in all fields of museum activities and are a platform for innovation.
» The museums work according to the ethical code of ICOM, International Council of Museums.5
» The museums have infrastructure, activities, and human resources available all year round, which opens up opportunities of exploitation for locals and guests. Possibilities in winter tourism should be considered.
Construction heritage:
» Work on protection zones in populated areas has taken place in all of Múlaþing’s towns. The importance of the cultural heritage has been underlined, old buildings owned by the municipality have been given new roles where applicable, and the cultural heritage made obvious.
Libraries:
» Public libraries are cultural, informational, and educational institutions that are run by the municipality. All residents should be able to enjoy the services of public libraries.
» Contemporary libraries are community centres, the third space for residents, in other words a neutral place that is neither home, work, nor school. They are shelters for their users. Libraries are among the few places where people can stay inside without a fee.
» Múlaþing’s libraries co-operate with the municipality’s preschools and primary schools, other libraries, non-profit organisations, and others that wish to use their facilities.
» Each library’s distinctive features must be preserved. Each library has its own charm and character.
» Libraries are statutory and operate according to the Library Act number 150 from 28.12.2012.6
Community centre is a term used for a place where everyone is welcome on their own terms, and no one is required to do anything. You can be in peace and quiet by yourself, or you can have communication with others, have a cup of coffee, read a book, use the facilities to create, attend lectures, and enjoy culture.
Cost estimation, responsibility and performance indicators.
If a policy is supposed to work as a tool it must be implemented into the municipality’s administration, amongst the employees and managers of cultural institutions, the grassroot, those who are interested, and residents. The policy presented takes note of The Global Goals of the United Nations7 amongst other things.
In the year 2030 Múlaþing’s cultural policy will be reconsidered and its benefits will be assessed. The value of culture and arts is layered and does not only have economic impact, it also has emotional, intellectual, personal, and social benefits.
Múlaþing’s Department of Labour and Culture makes a proposal of a cultural policy to the Regional Council.
The policy provides a timed plan of action with a cost estimation, timings, and guarantors to ensure that the policy will happen, and to avoid it becoming yet another document that winds up in a drawer benefiting no one.
When discussing the topic on how to assess the value of art creation and cultural activities, there does not seem to be a correct answer. In fact it can be problematic to pinpoint the value of culture and cultural products, as it can not only be measured in economic terms but must also be measured as a value to the community as a whole, from individuals to nations, and across borders. The scholar Alan Brown has made a conceptual map about the value of art and cultural activities. It is a framework which helps us understand the diversity and value of arts and culture for various groups of the society.
Performance measurements can be done by measuring the attendance to events, museums and cultural centres, separate incomes, increase in number of posts in the field and the amount of tourists that visit Múlaþing for art and cultural activities, happiness factors, and population increase. In that context the surveys the Icelandic Tourist Board makes annually can be mentioned, as well as traffic measurements done by The Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration, which can be used to measure certain events as well as marketing campaigns.
The action plan should be reviewed annually alongside the municipality’s financial plan. The Regional Council sets the financial framework and entrusts the director of cultural affairs to implement actions according to strategic planning, and priorities of the council.
Network
Health and well-being
The feeling of belonging
Social skills
Creative activity
A conceptual map which shows the value of arts and cultural activities. Put together by Heiðdís Hólm. Based on the ideas of Alan Brown.
Social participation
Teamwork
Cultural heritage
Mental stimulation
Strengthening of the spirit
Understanding
Local pride
Value of beauty
Mutual memories
A platform for sharing experiences
Communication
Harm reduction
Identity
Brainstorming
Critical thinking
Emotional development
Tolerance
Life fulfilment
Thanks to all of those who contributed towards this cultural policy.
Austurbrú workshop, participants in Múlaþing’s two specific groups on the 17th of May, 2023.
Meetings in the towns of Múlaþing in June. Numerous people were invited and those who accepted the invitation were:
Alda Marín Kristinsdóttir, Andri Björgvinsson, Arngrímur Viðar Ásgeirsson, Ásgrímur Ingi Arngrímsson, Áskell Heiðar Ásgeirsson, Bryndís Snjólfsdóttir, Eyþór Stefánsson, Jón Þórðarson, G. Magni Ásgeirsson, Óttar Már Kárason, Guðrún Sigurðardóttir, Kristín Dagmar Jóhannesdóttir, Kristján Ingimarsson, Þorbjörg Sandholt, Þór Vigfússon, Þórdís Sigurðardóttir, Þórdís Sævarsdóttir, Erla Guðný Pálsdóttir, Halldór B. Warén, Heiðdís Halla Bjarnadóttir, Jónína Brá Árnadóttir, Óðinn Gunnar Óðinsson, Ragnhildur Ásvaldsdóttir, Torvald Gjerde, Ingvi Örn Þorsteinsson, Jessica Auer, Julia Martin, Lasse Høgenhof, Pari Stave, Elfa Hlín Pétursdóttir, Elsa Guðný Björgvinsdóttir, Gauti Jóhannesson, Hanna Christel Sigurkarlsdóttir, Kolbrún Erla Pétursdóttir, Stefán Bogi Sveinsson.
Special thanks to Tinna K. Halldórsdóttir from Austurbrú for consultancy and reading through, Esther Ösp Gunnarsdóttir from Austurbrú for layout, textual criticism, and proofreading, and Heiða Ingimarsdóttir and Andy Morgan for translating and proofreading.
Food culture and local ingredients have been a focus point in East Iceland in the past few years.
