User:Hebrides/ASÍ Art Gallery

The ASI Art Gallery is a museum and gallery in Reykjavík, Iceland that offers exhibitions on Icelandic modern art, promoting young and upcoming artists as well as exhibiting its own collection. The museum's collection comprises Iceland's most renowned artists. The museum is located in Ásmundarsalur, which is in the center of Reykjavík on Freyjugata 41. 101 Reykjavík, and is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 13:00 to 17:00. Admittance is free of charge.

History
The Gallery was founded in 1961 when the industrialist and book publisher Ragnar Jónsson donated his art collection to the Icelandic Federation of Labour (ASÍ). The Federation of Labour owns the museum and its operation and activities are in accordance with regulations agreed upon by the governing body.

Ragnar Jónsson laid the foundation for the museum and made the establishment of the museum possible by donating a collection of 120 artworks to the federation. Most of the Ragnar Jónsson collection was created by Iceland's most renowned painters; Ásgrímur Jónsson, Gunnlaugur Scheving, Jóhannes Kjarval, Jón Stefánsson, Júlíana Sveinsdóttir, Nína Tryggvadóttir Svavar Guðnason, Þorvaldur Skúlason. Ragnar's wish was that the Institute would provide the working class with the opportunity to enjoy the artworks, and this has been the museum's mission from its establishment.

The inaugural exhibition of the collection was in the Listamannaskálanum in Reykjavík in July 1961, and this was followed by an exhibition in the Iðnaðarmannahúsinu in Selfoss in April 1962 which included a programme of events, with film showings and a talk by writer and art historian Björn Th. Björnsson.

Overview
As well as exhibiting paintings from the museum's art collection, the museum is also a platform for contemporary art exhibitions. Annually there are held about 10 to 15 exhibitions in the museum. The art collection has grown steadily over the years. The museum has received many gifts and a lot of artists have given their works to the museum. The museum has also added to the collection by buying Icelandic contemporary artwork.

The museum offers workplace exhibitions in institutes and workplaces around the country. This makes the museum's operation quite different from other museums, offering greater accessibility to its collection and following its mission on promoting its collection to a wider audience and people that do not visit museums on a regular basis.

Mission
The museums mission is to promot it´s collection to a wider audience and people that do not visit museums on a regular bases. Providing the working class the opportunity to enjoy the artwork was Ragnar Jónsson whish when donating his artwork to the Confederation of Labour.

Administration

 * The director of the museum is Kristín Guðnadóttir
 * The location of the museum is on Freyjugata 41, 101 Reykjavík.
 * Phone number: 511-5353
 * Email address: listasi@centrum.is

Access
The museum is located in a house that Ásmundur Sveinsson an Icelandic sculptor built in 1933. The house is called Ásmundarsalur and is on three floors.