Celebrating Iceland’s 100 year as a fully sovereign state, the Icelandic Museum of Natural History will open an exhibition in Perlan. Today, an agreement was signed in Perlan that guarantees an exhibition space for the museum in the newly built second storey of the building.
The agreement was signed by Hilmar J. Malmquist Director General of the Icelandic Museum of Natural History and Agnes Gunnarsdóttir CEO of Perla norðursins, in the company of Kristján Þór Júlíusson Minister of Education, Science and Culture, and the board of Perla norðursins.
A great milestone for the Museum of Natural History
Hilmar J. Malmquist Director General of the Icelandic Museum of Natural History says that signing this agreement is a great milestone in the history of the museum. “For the first time since this Central Museum was founded in 2007 it will get a space to exhibit in. Finally, the Museum of Natural History can properly cultivate one of it’s main roles which is to enlighten the public with an exhibition about Icelandic nature, Iceland’s natural history, how we use our natural resources, and how we conserve our nature. This building is magnificent; with the magical Icelandic nature all around us — the mountains, lava fields, geothermal energy, volcanoes, the ocean and glaciers,” says Hilmar. “Perla norðursins has give the Museum of Natural History a very important opportunity for which we are grateful. We must keep in mind though, that by participating in the Icelandic Natural Wonders exhibition we do not solve the future need of the Central Museum for research, offices or future exhibitions.”
A unique place to learn about Iceland’s nature
Agnes Gunnarsdóttir CEO of Perla norðursins says it’s wonderful to have the Icelandic Museum of Natural History under the same roof as the Icelandic Natural Wonders exhibition of Perla norðurins. “The Icelandic Museum of Natural History is one of our Central Museums of Iceland, and it is a joyous occasion that they finally get an exhibition space that honours them on the centennial anniversary of Iceland’s sovereignty,” says Agnes. “By installing the exhibition here in Perlan we can connect it with the Icelandic Natural Wonders exhibition of Perla norðursins. This will make Perlan a unique place for school children, Icelanders, and tourists to experience and learn about the natural wonder that Iceland truly is,” says Agnes.
Icelandic Museum of Natural History
The Museum was established in 2007, but its roots lie way back to 1887–1889, when The Icelandic Natural History Society (Icel. Hið íslenska náttúrufræðifélag) was founded. One of the main objectives of the Society, stated in its founding act, was, and still is, to put up an exhibition of Icelandic nature in the capital city, Reykjavík. The Icelandic Museum of Natural History is one of Iceland’s Central Museums alongside the National Gallery of Iceland, and the National Museum of Iceland. It is a public institution appertaining to the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture.
Perla norðursins (e. Pearl of the North)
Perla norðursins is building an ambitious and modern Museum of Icelandic Natural Wonders to enlighten visitors about Iceland’s nature, its features and evolution, how Icelanders use their natural resources and conserve the nature, and Iceland’s ecology in an international context. The first phase of two will open formally on 2 July, and will feature Iceland’s glaciers and how they impact the country and it’s people.
Further information
Agnes Gunnarsdóttir CEO of Perla norðursins, tel. (+354) 696 0678.
Hilmar J. Malmquist Director General of the Iclandic Museum of Natural History, tel. (+354) 893 0620.
