About the Project
The core mission of this project is to delve into and evaluate the protective measures for invaluable assets housed in Icelandic museums, especially in light of environmental disasters often linked to the consequences of climate change. We address the far-reaching impacts of floods, landslides, and other potential natural calamities on cultural artifacts and heritage sites. Notably, incidents involving the Technical Museum of East Iceland in Seyðisfjörður in December 2020, the Iceland Wartime Museum in Reyðarfjörður in September 2022 (also in the East), and The Herring Era Museum in Siglufjörður in November 2022 (the northernmost town in Iceland) exemplify the vulnerability of these institutions, all of which are small museums in peripheral areas.
Through collaboration with museums, professionals, and experts, this initiative seeks to consolidate its findings into a comprehensive guidebook. This guidebook will outline the necessary steps for managing natural disasters in Icelandic museums effectively, offering practical contacts, a step-by-step emergency response guide, and other pertinent information to consider before, during, and after a disaster event. We recognize that emergencies often require a „survival mode“ approach, as noted by some of our project partners. However, we firmly believe that an effective risk preparedness protocol for museum professionals is essential for coping with potential natural disasters in Icelandic museums.
