Research evaluations
The National Gallery of Denmark is the only Danish museum for visual arts that is included in the scope of the law on research at archives, libraries, museums, etc. As a result, the Gallery naturally plays a central part within art history studies in Denmark.
Like all major research institutions, the National Gallery of Denmark is evaluated at regular intervals. The first evaluation was conducted in 1996, the second in 2001, and at the beginning of 2008 an international panel handed in their evaluation of the Gallery’s research activities during the period 2002 to 2006.
Research evaluation 2002-2006
The report for 2002-2006 is comprehensive and features a range of constructive recommendations on how the museum can further improve its conditions for research. The overall conclusion of the evaluation is, however, unambiguously positive.
According to the panel, the National Gallery of Denmark has in recent years created research results that are “comprehensive, of excellent quality and highly relevant both in view of the Museum’s natural and central position in Danish art-historical research and in relation to the Museum’s successful fulfilment of all its obligations. In fact, taking the limited resources for research into account, we find that the Museum has produced far more research results (of high quality and relevance) than might be expected.”
So says the conclusion of the comprehensive report rapport Evaluation of the research of Statens Museum for Kunst 2002-2006. In addition to their constructive recommendations, the international panel behind the report also state that:
”Statens Museum for Kunst is the leading museum of fine arts in Denmark and holds comprehensive collections of Danish and foreign paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, etc., which are of significant importance to Danish fine arts and Danish culture. The Panel finds that the Museum has utilised this unique resource exceedingly well in terms of both quality research outputs and their wider dissemination.”
”The size and diversity of the collections combined with the attached research thus positions Statens Museum for Kunst among the finest art museums in Europe. The character of the overall collection and the attached work is important to current debates on Danish art and cultural identities, and their roots and relations nationally as well as internationally.”
An important recognition of the Gallery’s research
The National Gallery of Denmark is evaluated regularly, as are all major research institutions in Denmark. The first evaluation of the Gallery was conducted in 1996, the second in 2001.
”The evaluation reports are important because research holds such a central position at the National Gallery of Denmark. Both as the basis for the more immediately visible activities, such as special exhibitions, and as an important aspect of day-to-day museum work. The most recent report highlights how the Gallery is headed in the right direction, and we aim to honour the recognition we have received by further intensifying our research, e.g. through even greater collaboration with art institutions in Denmark and abroad,” says Peter Nørgaard, Head of Collections and Research at the Gallery.
Click to read the full report 2002-2006 (pdf 483 KB)
Click to read the annexes of the report 2002-2006 (pdf 376 KB)
The evaluation panel comprised:
Director Mette Skougaard (chairman), Frederiksborgmuseet
Director Solfrid Söderlind, Nationalmuseum, Stockholm
Afdelingsleder Frances Carrey, British Museum, London
Institutleder, professor David Jackson, University of Leeds.
Research evaluation 1997-2001
Click to read the full report 1997-2001 (pdf 115 KB)
The evaluation panel compromised:
Overbibliotekar Mirjam Gelfer-Jørgensen (chairman), Kunstindustrimuseet, København
Overinspektør Frances Carey, The British Museum, London
Seniorkurator Philip Cornisbee, National Gallery of Art, Washington
Professor John Horse, Courtauld Institute of Art, London
