Considering Open Access – Digital Preservation of arts research data:

AKA Managing your “stuff”

Open Repositories Conference 2015

Main Strand

Dr Robin Burgess

(r.burgess@gsa.ac.uk)

Objectives• Comment on the complexities of OA and

RDM in the visual arts• Describe the impact of OA on the visual arts• Managing visual arts data for OA and RDM• Support for arts institutes• Potential issues and recommendations

Quick Reminder! – OA and RDM

Introduction• Research data management (RDM) for open access (OA)

involves maintaining, preserving and adding value to research data throughout its lifecycle

• OA to data and research outputs in the visual arts is complex due to the non-standard nature of visual arts research and the practiced based approaches to research adopted

• So how can visual artists comply with the ever-changing open access policies and funder requirements for open access, and suitably manage their “stuff”

Why Manage Visual Arts Data?

• The active management of research data reduces threats to their long-term research value and mitigates the risk of digital obsolescence

• Curated data in trusted digital repositories (institutional and national) may be shared among the wider UK research community, and internationally

• Reduces duplication of effort in research data creation, curation enhancing the long-term value of existing data by making it available for further high quality research

Importance of OA

Complexities of Visual Arts Data• Data is complex and varied• Non-standard• Practice based• Various formats• Presents issues for managers• Security and preservation• Terminology

Research Data in the Visual ArtsResearch data means data in the form of facts, observations, images, computer program results, recordings, measurement or experiences on which a research output is based. Data may be numerical, descriptive, visual or tactile. It may be raw, cleaned or processed, and may be held in any format or media. Research data in the arts mirrors the complexity of the outputs, taking many forms including logbooks, journals, workbooks, sample libraries, sketchbooks, sets of images, video recordings, trials, prototypes, ceramic glaze recipes, found objects, and correspondence. Provenance information about the data might also be included: the how, when, where it was collected and with what. This metadata facilitates later interpretation and re-use of data

STUFF!

Impact of OA on the Visual Arts• Funder requirements

• Output types

• Record keeping

• Existing knowledge

• Policies

Managing Visual Arts Data• Valuable resource• Lots to offer• Resource

requirements• Systems – digital and

archives• Repositories

Research Projects:

• KAPTUR (http://www.vads.ac.uk/kaptur)

• VADS4R (http://www.vads4r.vads.ac.uk)

• Collaborative projects looking at RDM in the visual arts, systems and processes

Issues and Implications“… I am not sure what constitutes research data… What is data? I mean, I talk to you about my data as a researcher, but for the institution, what does it consider data? Would it be conference proceedings, would a performance be data even if it was not recorded, sometimes I don’t record my performances…”

Considerations• What data (“stuff”) is being

collected?• How is the information being

handled and stored?• Why bother managing the

“stuff” for open access?• What support is available

from ones institute?

Support for OA and RDM

• Digital Curation Centre (DCC)

• Australian National Data Service (ANDS)

• Development of policies

• SHERPA tools

Help?!

Recommendations• Adhere to funder and other policies

• Develop institutional policies

• Involve all support networks

• Review existing institutional approaches

• Liaise with researchers

• Investigate systems – new and existing

• Watch out for change…

ConclusionOpen Access

• Enhanced visibility• Policies• Required process

Research Data Management

• Supports outputs• Researcher orientated• Funder requirements

Web links:RADAR (the research repository at GSA): http://radar.gsa.ac.ukKAPTUR project: http://www.vads.ac.uk/kaptur/ VADS4R project: http://www.vads4r.vads.ac.uk The DCC: www.dcc.ac.uk  Journals:Leigh Garrett journal paper on RDM: http://kaptur.wordpress.com/2013/01/23/what-is-visual-arts-research-data-revisited/  Garrett L and Therese-Gramstadt M (2012). KAPTUR: Exploring the nature of visual arts research data and its effective management . Electronic Visualisation and the Arts.VADS4R Project Details: http://www.vads4r.vads.ac.uk/p/what-is-research-data.html ReportsKAPTUR Technical Report: http://www.vads.ac.uk/kaptur/outputs/Kaptur_technical_analysis.pdf KAPTUR Environmental Report:http://www.research.ucreative.ac.uk/1054/7/Kaptur_environmental_assessment_v1_7.pdf KAPTUR final report: http://www.vads.ac.uk/kaptur/outputs/KAPTUR_final_report.pdf  Conference Proceedings and Workshops (accessible from RADARBurgess, Robin (2014) From Kaptur to VADS4R: Exploring Research Data in the Visual Arts. In: Open Repositories 2014, 9th June to 13th June 2014, Helsinki, Finland. (http://radar.gsa.ac.uk/3392/)

Books and TextsPryor G, Jones S, and Whyte A (2013). Delivering Research Data Management Services: Fundamentals of good practice. Facet Publishing  

Supporting Documents

THANKYOUr.burgess@gsa.ac.uk

www.gsa.ac.uk

http://www.vads.ac.uk/kaptur/

http://www.vads4r.vads.ac.uk/p/welcome.html