The guides are practical texts for anyone who works with art: how to document an artwork, what to review before signing with a gallery, when an artwork ceases to be protected. They differ from the articles in the Public Notebook in their function. The Notebook analyses and interprets; the guides explain how to do something and which rules, data or documents each step relies on. That is why they are updated when what underpins them changes, and each one shows the date it was last checked.
Verified indicates that on that date, I checked every fact, rule and link against its primary source. Reviewed indicates that I re-read and updated the text without repeating that full verification. When only Updated appears, the date corresponds to the most recent edit.
The guides offer general information. They do not constitute individualised legal, tax or professional advice: for a specific case, consult a qualified professional.
Featured resource
Master artwork record
An open-format template for keeping a consistent inventory of your work from the studio onwards. The ODS workbook brings together four sheets: master record, restricted data, gallery deposit and key. It includes validations, filters, frozen headers and an example row.
The gallery deposit sheet fills in the title automatically from the inventory number. It is a record of the works delivered, not a contract. Terms of custody, insurance, sale, commission and return must be agreed separately.
The restricted data sheet contains personal, financial and location information. It must not be published, nor shared together with the general record.
The ODS is the main resource. The CSV files let you import the master record, the restricted data and the gallery deposit record separately.
The guides are currently searched and indexed in Spanish.
15 guides
How to use ORCID in the arts and humanities: identity, works and affiliations
What ORCID identifies, how to set up and maintain your record and how to connect it with publications, preprints, data and artistic practice without mistaking it for a CV or an accreditation.
Verified on 27 September 2026
- digital infrastructure
- research
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What is art? A map of the debate for beginners
An introductory map of the debate on the definition of art, from Weitz, Danto, Dickie, Levinson and Gaut to the recent discussion about AI.
Reviewed on 27 September 2026
- generative AI
- ontology of art
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How to publish your first preprint in the humanities
How to publish a preprint in the humanities: journal policy, licence, Zenodo DOIs, SSRN, PhilArchive, ORCID and updating versions.
Reviewed on 27 September 2026
- digital infrastructure
- institutional validation
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Primary source or back cover: how to tell what you are citing
A four-level method for knowing whether you are citing the text, a catalogue record or a back cover before resting an argument on it.
Reviewed on 27 September 2026
- cultural work
- institutional validation
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Structural surplus, explained
What structural surplus is, the relational criterion I propose for distinguishing art, explained without the technical apparatus of the articles.
Reviewed on 27 September 2026
- ontology of art
- recognition
- aesthetic subjectivity
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How to declare AI use in academic work
What to declare when you use artificial intelligence in academic work, where to place the declaration and a template you can adapt.
Reviewed on 27 September 2026
- generative AI
- cultural work
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Corrections and contributions
If you find an error, outdated information or a better source, please write to me via the contact page. I correct confirmed errors and update the date of the affected guide.