1. National report NEMO Annual meeting 2004 Danish Museums Denmark is preparing a reform of the administrative structure, which will mean larger ”kommunes” (municipality/local authority) and larger regions (5 regions instead of 15) This reform, which will be fully implemented in 2007, will have a great influence on the structure of museums. The present regional grants for museums will be taken over by the state and the kommunes, but there will in the long term be no guarantee for the amount of the grants. The reform will also mean that museums from present different kommunes will end up in the same new – and larger – kommune, and that will without doubt mean joining museums together in bigger units. The museums debate is now concentrated on this issue – which is not (only) seen as a problem – but also as a possibility for developing new ways of cooperation with related areas – and other views on the concept of museums. Frank Birkebaek

2. Association of Danish Cultural HistoricalMuseums (DKM) Lene Floris, Director of Holbæk MuseumChairman of DKM

3. Introduction • Danish Museum Act (1958 / 2001) Through collection, registration, conservation, research and communication the Danish museums shalli) Work for the safeguarding of Denmark's cultural and natural heritage,ii) Illustrate cultural, natural and art historyiii) Expand the collections and documentation within their respective areas of responsibility,iv) Make the collections and documentation accessible to the general public, andv) Make the collections and documentation accessible for research and communicate the results of such research.

4. Who are we? • 152 state-supported museums • Abt. 150 private collections, theme parks • 9,7 million visitors (2002) Categories: National Museums State-supported local museums of cultural history, 48 of these are responsible for archaeological excavations State-supported specialist museums (cultural history) State-supported art museums State-supported museums of natural history.

5. Organisations • DKM Association of Danish Cultural Historical Museums • FDK Association of Danish Art Museums • DNMAssociation of Danish Natural History Museums

6. Cooperation • Internal partners Museumstjenesten - The Museum Service Museumshøjskolen – The Danish Museum Training Institute Danske Museer – Journal 6 times annually DHF – www.historie-online.dk • External partners KUASThe Cultural Heritage Agency ICOM Nemo

7. Issues & challenges • financial and professional needs • meetings and seminars • information, advice • lobbying At the present: A new vision, missions and structures are at the agenda right now

8. Political national challenges • New municipal structure • Economy • New way of dividing responsibility • New co-operational fora

9. Who are we… in the future? Merger of the museum organisations • 1. phase 2003/4Negotiations, new articles/regulations • 2. phase 2004/5 Establishing Organisationen DANSKE MUSEER –The Danish Museum AssociationMarch 2. 2005 • 3. Phase 2005 ….. Employment director, increase secretariat etc.

10. Where are we ? At the moment: Museernes fællessekretariat (DKM, DNM, FDK) Gl. Strandvej 2 2990 Nivå Tlf. 49 14 39 66 Fax: 49 14 39 67 Email: info@mussek.dk Sekretariatsbestyrer: Kirsten Rex Andersen E-mail: rex@mussek.dk Chair Lene Floris: floris@holbmus.dk

11. Other adresses Kulturnet Danmarkwww.kulturnet.dk (a portal to Danish Culture) Danske Museer onlinewww.dmol.dk (many useful links) Kulturarvstyrelsen www.kuas.dk (many useful links) DKM - Fællessekretariatet www.dkm-mus.dk(to be improved!) DHF www.historie-online.dk