Interview: The Herring Era Museum

ANITA ELEFSEN

EDDA BJÖRK JÒNSDÒTTIR

DANÍEL PÉTUR DANÍELSSON

Introduce youselves

A: I’m Anita, I’m the director of the museum and I’ve been working here for over 20 years. I started at thirteen years old, as summer staff. I studied history and my master degree is in museum studies. I’m also chairwoman of the Icelandic museum association.

E: I’m Edda, I’m specialist in education and communication and I take care of the photography part. I started working here as a summer employee 8 years ago, I almost rejected the offer but luckily I said yes.

D: I’m Daniel, I studied my degree on tourism and I’m specialist in preservation and collection. I started working in the museum in January 2022, almost 2 years ago.

What is this museum about ?

A: In short is about the Herring Industry. Siglufjörður is to be the largest herring port in Iceland, so we are not just a local museum, we aim to preserve the herring history of Iceland, in general because there were more herring towns across Iceland even though none of them was as big as Siglufjörður. This industry collapsed about half century ago and I think people more or less moved real quick because it was such a harsh crash for the Icelandic economy, for people’s lives, they were left without jobs, without incomes, so they had to search for new opportunities. The companies, the boats, the ships...things were just left empty. I think in many ways this museum has really changed the landscape in Siglufjörður in general because after the collapse of the Herring industry there was no main industry, there were no travelers, over 1/3 of the population moved away searching for new beginnings elsewhere and the local community was just struggling to find a new balance that would replace the herring industry they had been counting for 70 years so I think the museum really changed the way we see our history because we just wanted to forget, move on and find something new and not to be constantly reminded of the herring that failed us.

How this museum started ?

This museum started because of volunteers, just regular local people, most of them were local teachers. Around 1989 hey started fixing the red building which was in a very bad shape and they even without permission they decided just to paint the house, because they wanted to prove to the local politicians and to the others that it could be made pretty again and it could have a new role. This group of people spent every extra hour that they had on their lives for 5 years in reconstructing the building, turningit into a museum but also going across the town and across the country to collect objects related to herring era. The museum formally opened in the red building in 1994.

What is your message ? For the locals, the tourists, the young people...

E: I would say that museums are for everyone and not a place that you have to visit once and you’re done with it. We would like to say that the museum is a place were you can come, explore something new and even though we have some same exhibitions we have gatherings happening for the local community and for guests over all. Museums are for everyone, is something that you can come a feel part of.

A: I an add to what Edda said that a museum is not a place just for the past. Is also a place for the present. And it is important for every community to collect and preserve their historty for future knowldge, future research and education but also museums are modern institutes. They are places top learn, they are not dark places with old stuff that get dusted.

D: I’m not sure if I can add something to all of that... “Herring is life” thats what somebody said!

What is do you enjoy most about the museum?

D: My coworkers. The days here are never the same, it’s always something new, sometimes multiple things so alsothe diversity of the job

E: I would also say the diversity, and as Dan said, we are a really good team, it’s not a joke that we really enjoy each others company, we are a really good team and that's very important in such a small work place in where we have to be willing to do whatever even if it’s cleaning or doing tours or working in the collection...but that’s what I really enjoy about this job, how is never the same and how is this a such interesting history, because people think “ow it’s just herring” but it impacted the country in so many ways, with the economy, about the woman impact in this industry. Being a Herring girl was one of the first opportunities for Icelandic women to be independent, so it was really empowering.

A: I do agree on everything both of them said, it’s very diverse and we have been very lucky with the team and not just the 3 of us, we’ve been 14 in the summer and we’ve been very lucky with our team and that's something that you cannot take for granted. But I think, what I most enjoy about the museum, a part from the colleagues, is that is challeging always. It never becomes routine, there are always new projects, new challenges and even though I’ve been here for over 20 years, I’m always learning every single day, I’m being challenged, always trying to do my best, and I think that's the best thing. Everyday is a lesson in many ways, it just makes sure that you never stop growing in what you’re doing.