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European Standards Survey

National Overview 1.1-1-3 - Norway

1. National Overview
Section 1 of the survey is intended to provide the EMII officers with valuable background information. This information will assist the EMII Officers in preparing for the programme of meetings with the Active Partners and also inform the preliminary work on the Business Plan and Culture 2000 application for the future development of EMII.
Contents
1.1 General
1.2 Museum Types
1.2.1 Public Museums
1.2.2 Private Museums
1.3 Additional Comments
Submission Details


1.1 General click here to edit data
i. Is there a national definition of 'Museum' in your country?
No
ii. Published definition:
However, we do refer to ICOM's definition: "A museum is a non-profitmaking, permanent institution in the service of society and of its development, and open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates, and exhibits, for purposes of study, education and enjoyment, material evidence of man and his environment" . We can add the main objective for Norwegian museums, as defined by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs: "Museums shall create the foundation for knowledge about, understanding for and experience with nature, culture and society in such a way as to show both continuity and change, connection and diversity."
iii. Is there national or state legislation governing the activities of museums in your country?
No
iv. Details:
Not in general. However, university museums are treated under the law governing universities and regional archaeology museums are governed by the National Heritage Act.
v. Do any museums in your country subscribe to the ICOM Code of Professional Ethics?
50% or less
vi. Your comments in relation to the ICOM Code of Professional Ethics usage in your country:
It is known to most museums with research staff. The Norwegian Museums Authority is currently collaborating with ICOM on a new translation that will be sent to all museums in 2000.
vii. Is there a body or organisation responsible for co-ordinating national museum documentation and information?
Yes
viii. Details:
Norwegian Museum Authority P.O. Box 8045, Dep. 0030 Oslo, Norway. Telephone: + 47 23 23 94 40, Fax: + 47 23 23 94 41, email: nmu@museumsnett.no, http://www.museumsnett.no


1.2 Museum Typesclick here to edit data
i. By your own definition of museum how many are there in your country?
Total No of
Museums:		 Total No of
Objects:		 Figures are:
700 24,000,000 Estimated


ii. Of the total number of museums given above, how many are public collections and how many are private collections?
Public Private Figures are:
670 30 Estimated


iii. Your definition of public museum:
We have no published defination. However, the accepted understanding is: all museums owned by the public, institutions and associations. Most of these receive public funding.
iv. Your definition of private museum:
We have no published defination. However, the accepted understanding is that in Norway we define private museums as owned by private individuals or private firms.


1.2.1 Public Museumsclick here to edit data
i. The table below represents the types of museum within your category public collections.
Total No of
Museums:		 Total No of
Objects:		 Figures are:
National 25 2, 180, 380 Actual
State 0 n/a Actual
Regional 100 0 Estimated
Local Authority 540 0 Estimated
University 4 9, 881,332 Actual
Military 1 109,311 Actual


1.2.2 Private Museumsclick here to edit data
i. The table below represents the types of museum within your category private collections.
Total No of
Museums:		 Total No of
Objects:		 Figures are:
Independent 0 0 Actual
Company 18 0 Estimated
Charitable Institutions 0 0 Actual
Charitable Trusts 0 0 Actual
Church 0 0 Actual
Private Associations 0 0 Actual
Private Foundations 0 0 Actual
Private Individuals 12 0 Estimated
iii. Information sources:
"Museumsstatistikken" ("Museums Statistics") based on an annual survey using a standardised form "Statistikk for norske museer og samlinger" (Statistics for Norwegian museums and collections").Also the Norwegian Museums Auhtority's own museums' database.


1.3 Additional Commentsclick here to edit data
i. Your additional comments:
The above information and statistics are based on the answers submitted to the annual survey "Museum Statistics" for 1998. Normally, approximately 70% of the total number of museums return a completed survey form. Therefore, the numbers do not reflect the total picture for museums in Norway. It has not been possible to estimate the number of objects held in the folowing categories: Regional, Local Authority, Company and Private Individuals therefore these figures are qualified as 'estimated'. Collections, as reported in Section 1.2 include photographs. The total number of photographs held across the 25 national museums is 1,538,935. The toal number held at the military museum is 36,000 and a further 457,349 are held across the 4 university museums.


Submission Details
i. Submitted by: Elin Harriet Wyller
ii. Job title: Head of Documentation and Research
iii. Organisation: Norwegian Museum Authority
iv. E-mail: elinhw@museumsnett.no
v. Date Submitted: 27/01/2000

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