Frequently Asked Questions
RESEARCH
Q: Why are certain artists not on the site?
A: The founding data for the site has been drawn from several scholarly texts that focused on women artists, colonial and Victorian artists, cartoonists and black & white artists and Aboriginal artists of the Western Desert. As a result there are gaps in the site’s foundation data but these are being filled all the time as new biographies are being added constantly.
Q: Why do some important artists have only really brief biographies?
A: Many of these entries were works in progress for a mooted second volume of the Dictionary of Australian Artists covering the 20th century. These brief entries were started by the late Joan Kerr before she passed away. The aim of the DAAO is to, in time, include substantial research on every Australian artist.
Q: What is a stub?
A: A stub is an entry that contains only a few sentences of text. While too brief to provide in-depth biographical information a stub still contains useful information and a starting point for further research.
Q: How can I use the DAAO’s search options to my best advantage?
A: The DAAO has four different types of searches to help researchers find the data they are looking for:
- ‘Simple Search’ will look for every occurrence of your search throughout all biographies on the system. That is, it will retrieve all mentions across all biography text on the site. This is a great way to search for a theme such as ‘expressionist’.
- ‘List by Surname Starting With’ will search only Artist Name fields.
-‘Alphabetical Listing’ lists all artists on the system in alphabetical order of their surname. This is a good search option to use if you can.t quite remember how that artist.s name was spelt but you know you.ve got the first bit right.
- ‘Advanced Search’ allows you to search for artists by combinations of metadata topics and is the most precise and malleable DAAO search. For example you may want to search for an artist by name, or you might want to perform a more detailed search such all Australian artists who have lived in England, whose medium is painting and who were born after 1950.
You can choose the search option that fits your needs. For more information see Search Background
Q: Why aren’t there images on the site?
A: In this first stage, the DAAO’s emphasis is on historical and biographical information concerning an artist’s life and practice rather than their actual works. The next stage of development involves, among other things, working with major cultural institutions to bring forward relevant images. The DAAO currently provides pre-generated search links to pictorial databases such as Picture Australia and Google Images, as well as specific image links into major digitised collections such as that of the National Gallery of Australia.
Q: How can I contact an artist listed on the DAAO?
A: Some publications and organisations that hold artist directories are Art Almanac, Art & Australia, Australian Art Collector or the National Association for the Visual Arts.
CREATE
Q: Can I submit my own biography or the biography of a relative?
A: Yes, however to be published, it needs to follow the DAAO contributor guidelines and editorial policy.
Basic information about the artist’s life including name, birth, death, period of practice and media is all that is required to start. Once your biography is under way you will have the option to add a range of information pertaining to everything from residence to training, from family members to exhibition and artwork links. You can update the biography as new information comes to light or simply leave it as a stub for someone else to expand upon.
Q: How do I write a biography?
A: To write a biography you need to be a DAAO member. Joining DAAO is free; simply go to the login page. The DAAO contributor guidelines will help you prepare your biography before you follow the seven steps to submitting it to the DAAO.
Q: What information should the biography include?
A: The emphasis of the biography should be on the artist’s life and practice, not their actual artworks. For more details you can read the DAAO contributor guidelines.
Q: Can I promote my show on your site?
A: The DAAO is a research tool and as such, promotion of upcoming exhibitions is not appropriate. However, you can list your exhibition history, include a link to your website (subject to the DAAO links policy) and point to the DAAO in other material relating to your work (see the DAAO Conditions of Use).
Q: How long does a biography have to be?
A: There is no minimum requirement but biographies should ideally be not more than 1000 words.
Q: How do I update or make a correction to a biography?
A: As a member you will have two options for updating a biography:
1. If you have a small amount of new information to add, or a correction to make, you can submit it as a supplement to the original biography. In time this information will be reviewed by a DAAO maintainer and, where appropriate, moved to the record proper.
2. If you have a significant amount of new information you can submit a full parallel biography.
Q: What should I do if I have an issue with changes/ versions/ peer review of my work?
A: As a member you have access to the Editorial Board and reviewer guidelines as well as the contributor guidelines; it is best to familiarise yourself with these, your contributor agreement and the conditions of use in order to understand how your writing is treated.
Q: How are entries assessed for inclusion?
A: Biographies of Australian artists that meet the DAAO’s editorial policy as reflected in the contributor guidelines are eligible to be published on the DAAO.
Q: How long does it take to get published?
A: The DAAO endeavours to publish your research as quickly as possible.
If you choose
‘quick review’ as your submission option, a DAAO maintainer will review and publish your work as soon as possible. If your entry meets DAAO’s editorial standards your entry will be published more quickly.
If your work does not meet editorial standards you may be asked to rewrite it and it may take a little longer to be published.
Choosing the ‘peer review’ option for submission may take longer as your research will be reviewed by an expert in your field, a member of the DAAO Editorial Board and a DAAO maintainer. Your entry may be delayed if it doesn’t meet editorial standards so it is best to start your biography by reading the contributor guidelines.
Q: Can I put a link to my site in my biography?
A: If you are submitting your own biography you may include a link to your website subject to the DAAO links policy.
REVIEW
Q: What does double-blind peer review mean?
A: A double-blind review is where neither the reviewer nor the author know the identity of the other.
Q: Who reviews my work?
A: DAAO peer reviewers are experts in their chosen fields and may be academics, senior gallery staff or the like. When you submit your biography for peer review a DAAO maintainer will assign a reviewer who specialises in the field of the artist you are writing about.
Q: Must I have my work peer reviewed?
A: No, you are welcome to submit your biography for ‘quick review’.
WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?
Art lovers and researchers
Authoritative data
Months of research executed in minutes
Fine grained search tool
A stable archive
Good data management
Links into relevant networks of information.
Academics
Publishing opportunities
A powerful research tool
Research quantum
Constructive feedback
Peer review services
A community of peers
An abiding home for your research
Opportunity to update and revise
International exposure
Credibility
Coursework support
Be part of the conversation: opportunity to comment
Authors
Publishing opportunities
Retain your IP
A powerful research tool
Constructive feedback
Peer review services
A community of peers
An abiding home for your publications
Opportunity to update and revise
International exposure
Credibility
Commercial galleries/ art trade and artists
Representation online
Currency, authority, veracity
A stable archive
Infrastructure long needed
Market support
Answer to queries
Cultural workers
Authoritative data
Months of research executed in minutes
Fine grained search tool
A stable archive
Good data management
Links into relevant networks of information
SMARTER ART DATA