Guidelines for the Bunad and Folk Costume Council
Adopted by the Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs on 12 June 2012.
§ 1. Purpose
The Bunad and Folk Costume Council (hereinafter 'the Council') shall promote, protect and continue the use and production of bunads and folk costumes in Norway as an expression of cultural identity and as a bearer of distinctive qualities.
Cultural heritage is neither an exact science nor a fixed entity. All cultural expressions evolve through an interplay between traditions and new impulses. Norway is characterised by a wide diversity that provides us with a dynamic and vibrant culture. Knowledge of and insight into such diversity is needed to allow the traditional cultural expressions we want to protect to evolve, so that they can continue to thrive in a dynamic and meaningful interplay with people today.
§ 2. Status
The Council is appointed by the Ministry of Culture and serves as an advisory body for the activities of the Norwegian Institute of Bunad and Folk Costume (hereinafter 'the Institute') and for the Ministry of Culture.
The Institute is part of Valdres Folk Museum under an agreement signed between the Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs and Valdres Folk Museum that came into effect on 1 January 2008.
§ 3. Organisation
The Council shall have five members and two deputy members. The ministry shall appoint one of the members as chair. Members and deputy members shall serve for a term of four years. No members may serve consecutive terms of more than eight years. Half of the Council's members are appointed every other year, i.e., one deputy member and, alternately, two or three members. The Council has a quorum when at least three members are present.
The Institute serves as the secretariat for the Council and participates in all meetings. Meeting minutes shall be distributed to Council members and deputy members. Remuneration to the Council members is determined by Valdres Folk Museum and shall be proportional to the work involved. Council members shall hold office until their successors are appointed.
§ 4. The tasks of the Bunad and Folk Costume Council
The Council shall ensure that the work of safeguarding the cultural expression that bunads and folk costumes represent be promoted in the best possible manner throughout the country. The Council shall place emphasis on the following tasks:
• facilitate collection, documentation, reconstruction, research, preservation and dissemination within the specialist area of bunads and folk costumes
• contribute to raising awareness and understanding of and interest in bunads and folk costumes as cultural expressions
• contribute to increasing knowledge about the production and use of traditional Norwegian bunads and folk costumes
• seek to facilitate development and revitalisation within the specialist area of bunads and folk costumes
• stimulate development of multicultural forums
The Council shall serve as a specialist advisory body and support for the Institute in its administration of the specialist area of bunads and folk costumes The Council shall:
• assess the achievement of objectives and comment on the Institute's annual report
• contribute to the development of plans and budgets for the Institute, in consultation with Valdres Folk Museum
• express an opinion on the appointment of the Institute director and participate in the process in consultation with Valdres Folk Museum
The Council shall provide advice to the ministry by:
• commenting on the Institute's annual report and give an overall assessment of the work and achievement of objectives in both the Institute and the Council
• commenting on the part of the annual budget application from Valdres Folk Museum that pertains to the activities of the Institute
The Council shall take the initiative in public debates and make public statements on matters pertaining to bunads and folk costumes.
§ 5. Amendments to the guidelines
The Ministry of Culture may amend the guidelines. Valdres Folk Museum shall be consulted on proposed amendments.
The Bunad and Folk Costume Council is appointed by the Ministry of Culture. The Council has five permanent members and two deputy members, all of whom are appointed by the ministry for four-year terms. The members of the current Council are:
Chair: Gry Grindbakken Filigree silversmith
Inger Lise Brøto Torland General manager, Vest-Agder husflid
Thomas Walle Senior advisor, Museums of Sogn og Fjordane
Joar Vaagø Bunad maker
Maria Björkroth Museum curator, costumes and textiles
Per Åge Bergquist Sivertsen (deputy) Designer and subject manager, Kristiania Univerisity of Applied Sciences.
Káren Elle Gaup (deputy) Folklore expert and museum curator