Data Standards

Categories for the Description of Works of Art (CDWA)
articulates a framework for describing and accessing information about works of art with 532 categories and subcategories.

CDWA Lite

VRA Core Categories
a data standard for the description of works of visual culture as well as the images that document them. Includes FAQs, Cataloging Examples, and Presentations.

VRA Core 4.0

Dublin Core Metadata Element Set
fifteen properties for use in resource description maintained by the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative (DCMI).

Controlled Vocabularies

Library of Congress Authorities
Search LC authority headings for Subject, Name, Title and Name/Title combinations.

The Getty Vocabulary Program
The Art & Architecture Thesaurus (AAT)
The AAT is a structured vocabulary currently containing around 131,000 terms and other information about concepts. Terms in AAT may be used to describe art, architecture, decorative arts, material culture, and archival materials.

The Cultural Objects Name Authority (CONA)
CONA comprises authority records for cultural works, including architecture and movable works such as paintings and sculpture.

The Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names (TGN)
TGN is a structured vocabulary currently containing around 1,106,000 names and other information about places.

The Union List of Artists Names (ULAN)
The ULAN is a structured vocabulary currently containing around 293,000 names and other information about artists.

Crosswalks & Mappings

Getty Metadata Standards Crosswalk
This crosswalk includes only a partial list of the elements for each standard, focusing on the areas of overlap. This crosswalk is for planning purposes only; refer to the original standards if you are creating a technical mapping.