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Contents
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Goals
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Guiding principles
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Scope and priorities
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Add your website criteria
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Access policy
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Interpretation and application
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Definitions of categories
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Goals
To improve and develop online
access to, and participation in, Australia's cultural and recreational activities
by listing and indexing all Australian websites covered by this policy.
Note
'Listing' means website names and brief details will be listed in our search
results, with a direct link to the website. 'Indexing' means that, in addition
to listing, all text content of a website will be indexed enabling searches
of content via our search engine.
Guiding principles
In selecting websites for listing
and indexing our Guiding principles are to:
- Provide a quality service focused on Australian
culture and recreation.
- Ensure links to all websites which are covered
by this policy.
- Encourage the ongoing uptake and further development
of online services throughout the Australian cultural and recreational communities.
- Take all care but accept no responsibility
in providing this service - read our Disclaimer
notice.
Core scope and priorities
The task of identifying, listing
and indexing Australian cultural and recreational websites is a major undertaking,
especially in the current rapidly changing Internet environment. Consequently,
we give priority to national, state and major regional organisations, peak
bodies and resources of particular importance.
We will endeavour to list and index all Australian
websites which satisfy our Add your website policy. However, there may
be exceptions where, for example, a site is itself a searchable directory,
database or catalogue; or a site has been suggested to us but is a lower
priority according to this policy or where there are technical reasons
which prevent us from indexing a site (for example, where a website has
a robot exclusion facility). In these instances most websites will be
listed but not indexed.
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Add your website criteria
All websites are assessed individually before
being listed and indexed, and reassessed periodically. Sites suggested
via our Web Managers website suggestion form
are not processed automatically. Taking our Guiding principles, scope
and initial priorities into account, preference is given to websites which
are both current and clear. Decisions are made on an assessment of both
of these criteria considered together and neither criterion is necessarily
more important than the other.
Current
Preference is given to websites which
are most up-to-date; that is, updated at least monthly. Sites which are
'under construction', contain obviously out of date material or have broken
links generally will not be listed and indexed. There will be some exceptions.
Out of date sites where the material is nonetheless still relevant and useful,
for example, annual festivals, conference papers, and innovative online
cultural experiences which assist this policy's primary goal, may be listed
and indexed.
Where further priorities need to be made preference
will be given to sites which are most up-to-date, which also satisfy the
clarity criterion and other aspects of this policy.
Clear
Preference is given to websites which
are easy to use with clear instructions, correct functioning and friendly
navigation. A unique homepage domain name (for example, www.yourname.com.au
- a 'virtual host' rather than www.ispname.com.au/yourname - a 'shared
host') with clear and logical directory names and structures are favoured.
Websites which are difficult to use, have low
level navigation or image and other source code and functional errors,
do not have a clear and easy to find description about themselves and,
in the case of an organisation, do not clearly display location and contact
details, will not generally be listed or indexed.
Where further priorities need to be made preference
will be given to sites which are most easy to use, display no source code
or technical errors, do not use framesets and which also satisfy
the currency criterion as well as other aspects of this
policy.
If your site is not listed, or listed but not
indexed, it is most likely that it falls outside these priorities and
criteria.
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Access policy
The primary objective of the Culture and
Recreation Portal, as defined in our Mission
statement, is to improve and develop
online access to, and participation in, Australia's cultural and recreational
activities. While we do apply selection criteria in deciding which
websites to list, index and link to, we do not use any filtering
software in providing these services.
Consequently, users who may be concerned about
retrieving and viewing material which they think may be offensive to them
- or who exercise a supervisory role with others - should consider installing
suitable filtering software on their computers to avoid downloading potentially
offensive material.
Interpretation and application
of this policy
Aim
In interpreting and applying this policy we
are aiming to balance improving online access to Australian cultural resources
and experiences against the need to provide a focused high quality service
within the resources available. Consequently, up-to-date, comprehensive
and easy to use online services which are at the edge of, or outside,
our core scope and priorities may not be listed and indexed while less
well developed online services at the core of our scope and priorities
may be listed.
Suggestions
Websites which are submitted by people using
our Add your website - form form are considered
before we go searching for new sites to add. (Please check that your
site is not already listed before you suggest it!)
Multiple categories
We categorise websites mainly according
to their primary function (as defined in our ‘Definitions of categories’
below) but also to their most closely related categories. For example,
‘Cinema Papers’ is primarily ‘print, radio and tv’
but is closely related to ‘film and video’ and can also be found
under that category.
Rationale
We are generally applying these criteria with
some flexibility and some variation from site to site. The prime purpose
of the portal is to provide access to information and services which may
be of value to the user, so where possible an appropriate judgement will
be made on this basis.
Definitions of categories
Definitions are derived from the Culture
and Recreation Thesaurus accepted by the Culture and Recreation Advisory
Committee. Select from the menu below to jump to a category definition.
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Archives,
libraries and museums
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Built, natural and
historic heritage
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Community arts
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Festivals
and events
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Film,
video and interactive media |
Galleries
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| Government
organisations and services |
History
| Indigenous
arts, culture and heritage |
Literature
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Music
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New media arts
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Organisations and networks
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Performing arts
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Print, radio and TV | Science
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Sport
and recreation | Visual
arts and crafts |
Archives, libraries and
museums
Websites of specific archives, libraries and
museums including related professional and industry bodies, such as conservators
and interest groups. Includes portals providing industry-wide links to
websites, for example for archives and museums, 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.
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.
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 during the period of European settlement in 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.
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.
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.
Film, video and interactive
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.
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.
Government organisations and
services
Organisations whose primary function
is government arts and heritage, sport and recreation administration at
national, state and territory, or local level.
History
This category includes websites relating to the
history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and culture, European
settlement of Australia, and websites focussing on significant Australian
topics, events and individuals. Websites relating to the discipline of history
including professional and interest groups, consulting historians and links
to 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.
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.
New media arts
Individuals and organisations involved
primarily in experimentation with new forms of expression and exploration
of hybrid art practices involving interdisciplinary practice, technologies
or established art forms. This interdisciplinary arts practice crosses artistic
and cultural boundaries, transcends discrete artform boundaries and is influenced
by practice outside single artistic disciplines or by practices in other
discipline (e.g. science).
Organisations and networks
Websites of non-government 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.), networking
organisations and virtual/online networks in the culture and recreation
sectors.
Performing arts
Websites of professional, and some
community organisations, artsworkers 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 involved
in administration, research, preservation, history and promotion of science.
Includes scientific and related cultural organisations; national, state
and territory science organisations; scientific facilities including public
educational facilities. Websites include activities and information which
encourage public participation and understanding of particular scientific
disciplines.
Sport and recreation
Websites of national, state and territory
sporting organisations, sporting competitions, community sports organisations
and clubs, academies and institutes of sport and special sporting events
organisations. Includes sports related services and information such as
ticketing, venue information, 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.
We welcome your feedback on our "Add your
website policy" so we can make this a better service for you. Please
email your comments to
editor@cultureandrecreation.gov.au.
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