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 means that on that date I checked every fact, rule and link against its primary source. Reviewed means that I re-read and updated the text without repeating that full check. When only Updated appears, the date corresponds to the last edit.
The guides offer general information. They do not constitute individualised legal, tax or professional advice: for a specific case, consult a qualified professional.
Total: 145
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 It must not be published, nor shared together with the general record.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.
9 guides
Restitution and responsible acquisition: the provenance of a work
How to investigate the provenance of an artwork before purchase, which databases to consult and how to act if a problem arises subsequently.
Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- cultural heritage
- provenance
Read the guide:Read the guide
Provenance of a work of art: what it is and why it decides its fate
What the provenance of a work of art is, how it is researched, which international instruments apply and which European bodies examine claims.
Verified on 27 September 2026
- art collecting
- art market
- cultural heritage
Read the guide:Read the guide
Donating a work to a museum: offer, acceptance and tax relief
How to offer a work to a museum, how the decision to accept is made, what to agree upon in writing, how it is valued and what tax relief it provides.
Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- cultural heritage
Read the guide:Read the guide
Loaning a work to an exhibition: the loan agreement
What a loan agreement must include, the nature of a facility report, who bears the insurance costs and the implications for private collectors.
Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- cultural heritage
Read the guide:Read the guide
Importing and exporting works of art in Spain: permits and licences
Which artworks require a permit to leave Spain, when a European licence is necessary, and what the 2025 import regulation demands.
Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- cultural heritage
Read the guide:Read the guide
Working in a museum in Spain
Pathways to working in a museum in Spain: curator and assistant bodies, regional and local positions, foundations and the most in-demand profiles.
Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- cultural heritage
- cultural work
Read the guide:Read the guide
Preparing for the succession of an art collection
How to prepare for the inheritance of an art collection: inventory, valuation, inheritance tax, distribution, payment in kind and lifetime gifting.
Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- cultural heritage
Read the guide:Read the guide
How to care for an art collection at home
The light tolerance of a work, managing humidity, how to hang and store, and what to avoid when cleaning a painting or a work on paper.
Reviewed on 7 November 2026
- art collecting
- cultural heritage
Read the guide:Read the guide
Images of public domain works: what is free and what may be charged for
Qué ocurre con la reproducción fiel de una obra visual en dominio público, qué pueden cobrar museos y bancos de imágenes, qué permiten cinco instituciones españolas y cómo localizar archivos…
Verified on 28 September 2026
- copyright
- research
- cultural heritage
Read the guide:Read the guide
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.