Linda

The Getty Union List of Artists Names (www.getty.edu/research/tools/ 
vocabularies/ulan/) is undoubtedly the most comprehensive list of  
artist's names - and the world standard for the correct form of  
artist's names.  The reason that Getty has such good European  
coverage for people in the UK is that the Witt Library at the  
Courtauld Institute supplied them with their massive and  
comprehensive list of artist's names free of charge, in the service  
of research/education.

For information about how Getty defines 'artist' see their FAQ  
( http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabularies/ulan/faq.html ).  
It is very helpful - also on which are the 'preferred terms'.
A comprehensive description of the background and history of this  
project is at http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabularies/ulan/ 
about.html  Well worth a read.

You can search the ULAN index for individual names freely at http:// 
www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabularies/ulan/index.html , but if  
you want a full xml download - and regular updates - you will need to  
enter into a license agreement and pay a fee. I don't know what they  
are currently charging but they say "Contact us at [log in to unmask],  
subject line: Licensing, to learn the amount of the fees and terms of  
licenses. Please include an explanation of how you intend to use the  
data and whether your institution is for-profit or not-for-profit. "

An explanation of this is at http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/ 
vocabularies/obtain/download.html  The fees help them to cover the  
costs of the ongoing upkeep and updating of the vocabularies they  
administer.

The index is obviously also very useful for investigating the  
copyright status of works.

The editor is the redoubtable Murtha Baca - metadata standards expert.

Hope this is helpful. I would be interested to know what fees are  
currently charged.

best wishes

Angela


Angela Murphy
Consultant
Image Management and Rights Clearance

The Image Business
21 Leamington Road Villas
Notting Hill
London W11 1HS
Tel: +44-(0)20-77274920
Mob: +44-(0)7973-820020

email: [log in to unmask]

On 25 May 2011, at 16:39, Linda Ellis wrote:

> We are looking at how we can standardise, across 8 partners, the names
> we use for artists, makers etc. for our works of art and museum  
> objects.
>
>
> I have discovered that Finland have a names thesaurus - ONKI  
> People: An
> Ontology Service for Finding People and Organizations
> http://www.seco.tkk.fi/services/onkipeople/
>
>
> Is there anything similar for the UK / Europe?
>
>
> Has anyone else tackled this issue and come up with their own home- 
> grown
> thesaurus of names?
>
>
>
> Be interested in peoples thoughts / ideas...
>
>
>
> Linda
>
>
>
> Linda Ellis
>
> Project Manager Black Country Collections Online
>
> Wolverhampton Art Gallery
>
> Lichfield Street
>
> Wolverhampton
>
> West Midlands
>
> WV1 1DU
>
>
>
> tel. 01902 552 048
>
> fax. 01902 552 053
>
> www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk <http://www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk>
>
> www.blackcountryhistory.org <http://www.blackcountryhistory.org>
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> DISCLAIMER: This email and files transmitted are
> confidential and are intended solely for the use of the
> intended recipient.  If you are not the intended
> recipient, or the person responsible for delivering it to
> the intended recipient, you may not copy, disclose,
> distribute or use it in any unauthorised manner.  If you
> have received this email in error please notify us by
> email to [log in to unmask] and then delete
> it and any attachments accompanying it.  Please note that
> Wolverhampton City Council cannot guarantee that this
> message or any attachments are virus free or have not been
> intercepted and amended.
> Any views or opinions expressed within this email are
> those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those
> of Wolverhampton City Council and no contractual
> arrangement is intended to arise from this communication.
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> ****************************************************************
>        website:  http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/
>        Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/ukmcg
>       Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/museumscomputergroup
>  [un]subscribe:  http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/email-list/
> ****************************************************************


****************************************************************
       website:  http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/
       Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/ukmcg
      Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/museumscomputergroup
 [un]subscribe:  http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/email-list/
****************************************************************