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Definitions

Location | Audience | Category

Location

The location categories enable intelligent searching of listed websites according to their location. Where a location is not relevant the category value 'web' has been allocated.

For more information on Australia's States and Territories please visit the Australian States and Territories map .

Audience

The audience categories enable intelligent searching of websites according to metadata that identifies websites as being of particular interest to one or more of these groups.

The audience categories have been derived from a variety of sources including Australian Government Locator Service (AGLS) and Australian Standard Classification of Occupations (ASCO) definitions.

For more information about metadata see our metadata screen.

Category (Thesaurus)

Definitions are derived from the Culture and Recreation Thesaurus. Select from the menu below to jump to a category definition.

Architecture and Design

Websites of organisations, businesses and individuals involved in the architecture and design industries and professions, interdisciplinary practitioners and resources for those interested in the disciplines and their history. In particular includes professional and industry associations, and artists working in design or in architecture-related fields (i.e. architectural photography, decorative art, urban design elements, public art etc).

VISUAL ARTS should be used for design related to specific artforms such as jewellery, furniture, costume, fashion, etc.

NOTE - many artists' websites use the term 'design' as a general term and should not be included in Architecture and Design.

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Archives and libraries

Websites of specific archives and libraries including related professional and industry bodies, such as conservators and interest groups. Includes portals providing industry-wide links to websites and links to special collections held by institutions for which separate websites or portals have been developed, such as image or picture collections. Includes websites of related industry services and resources such as journals and consulting services.

ARCHIVES - Organisations whose primary function is the permanent preservation of unique records created by government agencies, non-government organisations or individuals.

LIBRARIES - National, state, territory, public and other libraries. In particular, national, state and territory libraries responsible for the acquisition, conservation, lending or reference of all significant publications issued nationally or in each state or territory, and functioning as deposit libraries. Public libraries funded by state and local government, primarily engaged in the provision of a free library service to local communities. All other libraries primarily engaged in the provision of a free library service and which are accessible to the public.

NOTE - Websites of government funded and administered archives and libraries, from all levels of government, should also be classified under COLLECTING INSTITUTIONS.

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Built, natural and historic heritage

Websites of organisations, businesses and individuals involved in the identification, preservation, protection and promotion of areas, sites and places of cultural heritage significance including built, indigenous, natural and historic heritage.

BUILT HERITAGE - Buildings or structures, and their environment, created since the British colonisation of Australia, that are on the Register of the National Estate, the register of the National Trust of Australia and/or state and territory government registers. Organisations whose primary function is the permanent preservation of those buildings or structures. Buildings and structures included are those due to their importance to the nation's cultural heritage and their historic, scientific, aesthetic, social or architectural value and may or may not be open to the general public.

NATURAL HERITAGE - Natural heritage covers areas used for outdoor recreation (other than sporting) such as national or state parks or reserves, and other natural areas on the Register of the National Estate or similar state or territory registers. Organisations whose primary function is the management, conservation and/or preservation of natural heritage areas and/or native flora and fauna.

INDIGENOUS HERITAGE - Organisations and individuals involved in the primary preservation of Indigenous cultural heritage. Preservation includes organisations or individuals whose primary function is the permanent preservation of Indigenous sites, areas, structures or other features (including their settings), of historic, scientific, aesthetic, social or other special or traditional value, listed on the Register of the National Estate or similar state or territory registers.

NOTE - Websites which primarily relate to Indigenous heritage should also be classified under INDIGENOUS ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE.

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Collecting institutions

Websites of government funded and administered archives, libraries, galleries and museums. Includes websites of national, state, territory, city, regional and local government funded institutions whose primary purpose is the acquisition of works across all forms of art, cultural objects, materials and records.

INSTITUTIONS - Organisations devoted to promotion and support of an objective for public purposes, and which are understood to be organised, well established and measurable with their own organisational governance, policy, practices, rules and arrangements relating, in this instance, to the promotion and support of Australian culture.

COLLECTING INSTITUTIONS - Institutions which have been established to maintain a collection of either national, state or regional significance for the public interest and, in particular, works and records that relate to the history and cultural identity of Australia.

NOTE - All websites included here should also be classified under either ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES or MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES.

Community arts

Websites relating to community arts and community cultural development practices, activities and projects. Includes professional artists working with communities to advance their artistic and social aspirations. Through these collaborations communities are assisted to maintain or reclaim their culture, to address issues of concern to them and to create contemporary artistic works which reflect the richness and diversity of Australian communities and their cultural life. The outcomes of community art projects may include all or any artforms.

NOTE - Where a site classified under COMMUNITY ARTS has a clear and strong interdisciplinary focus with another field of arts practice it should also be classified under that category.

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Cross media arts

Individuals and organisations involved primarily in experimentation with new forms of expression and exploration of hybrid art practices involving interdisciplinary practice; new, existing and emerging technologies; and existing artforms. This interdisciplinary arts practice crosses artistic and cultural boundaries, transcends discrete art form boundaries and is influenced by practice outside single artistic disciplines or by practices in other discipline (e.g. science).

FILM, VIDEO AND DIGITAL MEDIA should be used for sites relating to web design, interactive multimedia etc.

Only sites which have a direct interdisciplinary connection between the art and technological aspects of any new technology may be classified under CROSS MEDIA ARTS and FILM, VIDEO AND DIGITAL MEDIA.

NOTE - Artforms commonly associated with this category include: computer graphics and animation, cyberpoetry, digital media art, electronic media art, electro acoustic music, electronic and computer music, hypertext essays, interactive art, interactive multimedia.

Exhibitions

Websites hosting exhibitions, both online and virtual versions of exhibitions staged in venues which can be visited, with particular emphasis on exhibitions of art, works and individual artists, historical subjects, built and natural heritage. Includes websites of information and services about developing and touring exhibitions.

NOTE - many artists' websites use the term 'exhibition' to indicate that the artist mounts exhibitions or has exhibited work. This is used as a general term and is not sufficient to classify the site under EXHIBITION. If the site includes an exhibition of an artist's work it may be included.

NOTE - many cultural institutions host exhibitions as a part of their core responsibilities, this should be classified under exhibition programs. Exhibition websites themselves should only be classified under this term.

Festivals and events

Websites developed by organisations supporting, providing event services, or managing specific cultural indoor or outdoor cultural festivals, exhibitions or events. Festivals may embrace a number of different artforms, for example Adelaide Festival of Arts Inc., or be limited to a specific form, for example, the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

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Film, video and digital media

Organisations whose primary function is the production, distribution or exhibition of motion pictures (on film or video tape), using performers, animated techniques and prepared scripts, for screening in cinemas, viewing at home on video players or broadcasting and narrowcasting (terrestrial, cable or satellite) of reception by television. Interactive media organisations, service providers and facilities may be integrated with film and video but include a separate industry involved in the use of new technologies for, for example, web design, CD-ROM production and provision of services online. Includes organisations which regulate and control the industry, Cooperative Multimedia Centres, industry associations, interest groups and businesses which provide services to the industry.

CROSS MEDIA ARTS should be used for sites which relate directly to arts in the context of new media and new technologies.

Galleries and museums

Websites of specific galleries and museums including related professional and industry bodies such as conservators, and interest groups. Includes portals providing industry-wide links to websites and links to special collections held by institutions for which separate websites or portals have been developed, such as image or picture collections. Includes websites of related industry services and resources such as journals and consulting services.

GALLERIES - Websites of public and private organisations whose primary function is the acquisition, management, conservation, exhibition and research of all forms of artworks for education and enjoyment. Commercial galleries which market and sell finished objects such as paintings, photographs, prints, sculpture, ceramics/pottery, textiles, woodcraft, furniture, or jewellery.

MUSEUMS - National, state, territory and other major museums, whose primary functions are to engage in museum services including collection acquisition, research, conservation, communication and exhibition of the material evidence of people, their culture and their environment for the purposes of study, education and enjoyment by the public and specialists.

NOTE - Artforms in this category most commonly include ceramics, digital media, glass art, painting, photography, prints and printmaking and sculpture.

NOTE - Websites of government funded and administered galleries and museums, from all levels of government, should also be classified under COLLECTING INSTITUTIONS.

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Government organisations and services

Organisations whose primary function is government arts and heritage administration, and government sport and recreation administration, at national, state and territory, or local levels.

Includes all organisations which administer or regulate these industries and which form the government policy framework within which the industries operate. It also includes organisations which facilitate cross-governmental representation.

History

This category includes websites relating to both the history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and culture, and the history of European discovery and English colonisation and settlement of Australia. It includes websites focussing on significant Australian topics, events and individuals, and websites relating to the discipline of history including professional and interest groups, consulting historians and historical research collections.

Indigenous arts, culture and heritage

Organisations and individuals involved in the primary creation or preservation of indigenous arts, culture and heritage in any media, artform or any other form of cultural expression.

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Literature

Websites of individuals and organisations involved in primary literary creation, publishing or other literature service providers. Literature encompasses written material intended to entertain or inform. Products include articles, biographies, essays, libretti, plays, poems and literary works of fiction and non-fiction. Forms of publication include all types of hard copy and soft copy.

Music

Individuals and organisations involved in primary music creation, performing and publishing and other music service providers, including music material intended to entertain or inform. Products include live performances, recordings and sheet music. 

Peak organisations and networks

Websites of non-government cultural and recreational sector organisations including professional associations, interest groups, industry representative bodies, peak industry bodies (responsible for representation of a whole sector or profession such as museums, libraries, film etc.), cultural networking organisations and virtual/online cultural networks.

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Performing arts

Websites of professional, and some community organisations, arts workers and performance companies whose primary function is to present live performances to the general public. Performing arts comprises theatre and dance. Includes industry support services and information services for the industry and audiences.

Print, radio and TV

Websites relating to the print, radio and television media in Australia. Includes major daily newspapers and publications relating to the cultural industries including those produced in hard copy and/or online. Radio and television includes organisations whose primary function is production, broadcasting or narrowcasting of programs via government, commercial or community services. Training, regulatory and community or special interest organisations directly related to media production, distribution and broadcasting are also included.

Science

Websites of organisations which encourage public participation in and understanding of particular scientific disciplines. Includes websites of organisations involved in the preservation, history and promotion of science through science centres, science museums, science festivals and events.

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Sport and recreation

Websites of national, state and territory sporting and recreational organisations, competitions, community organisations and clubs, academies and institutes of sport and special events organisations. Includes sports and recreation related services and information such as ticketing, venues, match and competition results, history and heritage of sport and websites relating to sporting stars.

Visual arts and crafts

Websites of individuals and organisations involved in primary visual arts/craft creation, including artists, dealers, curators and industry support and development services such as lobbying, marketing and training/professional development. Products include one-off, or a limited series of paintings, murals, drawings, cartoons, prints, photographs, video-electronic images or temporal works of art, sculpture, ceramics, pottery, jewelry, textile art, fashion, woodwork, furniture and musical instruments.

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Download a copy of the Culture and Recreation Thesaurus

Click on this link to download the Culture and Recreation Thesaurus in PDF format

 

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