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Manuscript Exhibition
The Institute's exhibition, which is located in the Culture House (Þjóðmenningarhús), focuses on the cultural and political role played by the Icelandic medieval manuscripts from their earliest days to the present. The poetry and prose works preserved in these manuscripts are the richest evidence on the culture and mentalities of Northern Europeans in pagan times - traditions and lore which in their oral form served as the sources of knowledge and entertainment both at royal courts and among the commoners.
The advent of written Christian culture made possible the organised recording of this knowledge, producing books which were of value in political struggles for wealth and social influence. Ownership of land was attested to with reference to written reports of the settlement of Iceland, written legal provisions replaced the memory of the lawspeakers, and the poems and stories which previously lived in constantly changing oral form became fixed works of literature. A comprehensive and richly illustrated collection was compiled in connection with the exhibition, entitled "Handritin" / "The Manuscripts of Iceland". In a variety of articles, scholars present the story of the manuscripts in an entertaining and accessible form, explaining as well their influence on more recent times. The book is available at the exhibition entrance and Culture house shop at a price of ISK 3500. Cards and posters with illustrations from the manuscripts are also on sale. History Ever since the first manuscripts were returned to Iceland from Denmark in 1971, the Institute has given the public opportunities to view selected manuscripts in special manuscript exhibitions, held for a long time at its premises in Árnagarður. These manuscript exhibitions have been requisite stops for foreign dignitaries in their official visits to Iceland. Schoolchildren and students of all ages, native and foreign, have always been welcome guests, and a museum educator has worked at the Institute since 1998, receiving groups of students and providing education on manuscripts and manuscript production. After three decades of Manuscript Exhibitions in Árnagaður, a permanent exhibition was opened in October 2002, in the Culture House on Hverfisgata 15, 101 Reykjavík. Groups are welcomed at the Culture House's Manuscript exhibition every day by prior arrangement: Book guided tour. Information on museum educational services at the Manuscript exhibition is available by E-mailing the Institute's Museum Educator, Svanhildur Gunnarsdóttir; svanberg@hi.is The Culture House is open daily 11:00
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