Hi there Sylvia,

We have quite a variation on how our descriptions have been done. For some 
our more famous and long-standing favourite works we have gone with using 
the interpretive labels you would find in the gallery space. However when 
we expanded our descriptions to cover all our oils for our participation 
in the PCF/BBC "Your Paintings" project we took a more what you see visual 
description with some slight interpretation where it was known. The PCF 
did produce some description guidelines to help participating collections, 
they would only apply to fine art though.

I would be very interested in other organisation's replies to this. 

John


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Sylvia Cox <[log in to unmask]> 
Sent by: Museums Computer Group <[log in to unmask]>
08/11/2012 16:17
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Subject
Standardising descriptions






I wonder if anyone would mind offering some advice about standardising 
object descriptions...
 
I am currently reviewing the way that information is entered into the 
'Description' field on Ablib, and was wondering whether anyone uses/knows 
of set standards that can be applied? Do people tend to start with a broad 
description and then hone in on the finer detail? Is there a standard way 
to order the information entered E.g. Form, colour, decoration, etc. ? 
 
Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I'm sure people do things in 
different ways, and perhaps there is no set formula for this, but it would 
be nice to compare approaches. 
 
With thanks, 
 
Sylvia Cox
 
Collections Management Fellow
Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts
University of East Anglia
Norwich Research Park
Norwich
NR4 7TJ  
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