SouthernArtistry.org FAQ

Index

1. What is SouthernArtistry.org?
2. What can I learn about artists on SouthernArtistry.org?
3. Do I need to register to use the site and is registration free?
4. What are the browser/system requirements for viewing SouthernArtistry?
5. Who can be included on the SouthernArtistry?
6. What is public art and why is it a search option on SouthernArtistry.org?

1. What search options do I have?
2. What should I type in the "keywords" field?
3. How do I search using an exact phrase for my keywords?
4. My search results didn't match my keywords. Why?
5. How is the order of the search results determined?
6. When I searched for an artist, I was given the message, "There is no artist matching your search criteria." What went wrong?
7. I don't see my profile on this site. What happened?
8. How do I view an artist portfolio?

1. How do I view video and play audio samples on my computer?
2. How do I contact artists?

1. Requirements and contacts:
2. What are the benefits of being on SouthernArtistry.org?

Still have Questions? Contact SouthernArtistry.

New to SouthernArtistry

1. What is SouthernArtistry.org?

   Please note: The terms "artist" and "group" are used interchangeably in this document.

   SouthernArtistry.org is an online artist registry designed to showcase the South's artistic diversity and excellence by spotlighting outstanding artists of all disciplines that live and work in the region. These artists are nominated based on the quality of their work by state arts agencies in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

   SouthernArtistry.org provides artists with an online platform from which to expand their audience, publicize their work, and articulate their artistic philosophy. The registry is a joint effort of Southern Arts Federation (SAF) and the Center for Arts Management & Technology at Carnegie Mellon (CAMT).

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2. What can I learn about artists on SouthernArtistry.org?

   Each artist on the registry has their own page or portfolio, which includes samples of the artist’s work (images, audio, video, or writing samples), their biography and contact information. In some cases, artists have chosen to include additional information, such as special services they provide, their classroom and public art experiences, awards they have received, links to additional Web sites, their upcoming exhibition and/or performance schedules, and a list of publications in which they have appeared and/or authored.

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3. Do I need to register to use the site and is registration free?

   No, you do not need to register to use the site. However, certain information on the site (including advanced search features and artist contact information) will not be available unless you register. Registration is free. SouthernArtistry.org is a not-for-profit service provided by the Southern Arts Federation (SAF). Donations to support this service are welcome and can be made by visiting SAF’s Web site.

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4. What are the browser/system requirements for viewing SouthernArtistry?

   This site has been designed to work with computers running the Windows or Macintosh operating system using Internet Explorer 5.0 and higher, Mozilla/Firefox 2.0 and higher, and Netscape Navigator 6.0 and higher with JavaScript enabled. The following media players can be used to play audio and video samples on the site:

   • Windows Media Player 7.1 or higher
     http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/default.asp
   • QuickTime 6.5 or higher
     http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/version.html
   • RealPlayer 10 or higher
     http://www.realnetworks.com/products/media_players.html
   • Flash Player 9 or higher
     http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/

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5. Who can be included on the SouthernArtistry?

   Artists and groups featured on SouthernArtistry are outstanding artists of all disciplines that live and work in the South. These artists/groups are chosen by state arts agencies of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Find out how to join.

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6. What is public art and why is it a search option on SouthernArtistry.org?

   Public art can take many forms, from visual art to performance events, which are meant for display in a public place. The goal of public art is often to enhance the atmosphere of areas in public use, and as such, it is often funded by local governments and municipalities. Below is a listing of the types of public art that SouthernArtistry artists may have participated in:

   • Permanent (or permanent installation)–Artwork or project that has an intended fixed site with no pre-determined life span.
   • Temporary (or temporary installation)–Artwork or project with a pre-determined life span.
   • Design Team Projects –Artwork or project created through the cooperative efforts of design professionals, such as artists, architects, engineers, landscape architects, etc.
   • Community-based –Artwork or project planned, designed and/or installed with input and/or participation of a community or school.
   • Performance –Artwork or project that is theatrical, featuring the activity of the artist and works presented in a variety of media.
   • New Media/Experimental – Artwork or a project not previously covered in definitions of other types of public art.

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Finding Artist Portfolios on SouthernArtistry

1. What search options do I have?

   If you aren't looking for a particular artist, you may want to browse an alphabetical listing of all artists on the registry OR browse an index of artists based on their state of residence or their artistic discipline. However, should you want to focus your search results, you can do so by using the following tools: 

   • Artist Name Search: Find artists based on their name. You may type first name, last name, full name to see varying results.
   • Simple Search: Find artists based on their name, location, genre/medium, and keywords.
   • Advanced Search: Find artists based on simple search options PLUS whether you prefer to look at individual artists or groups of artists, as well as, what general services an artist could provide for you.
   • Artists in Arts Education Search: Find artists based on simple search options plus classroom experience.
   • Artists in Public Art Search: Find artists based on simple search options plus public art experience.
     

    

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2. What should I type in the "keywords" field?

   You should use words that describe aspects of the artist's work. These could be words that the artist applies to his/her work, or terms that have become associated with his/her work. You can use skills, medium, instrument, etc. Examples of keywords include "blues guitar," "mandolin," "blank verse," "conceptual," and "watercolor."

   In addition, you can get a more specific geographic search by entering the name of a region (i.e. “Gulf Coast” or “Appalachia”).

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3. How do I search using an exact phrase for my keywords?

   Enclose the phrase in double quotes, e.g., "Arts Management."

    Here are some examples of how using double quotes will affect your keyword search:

   blues guitar	Will yield only opportunities with descriptions that contain the words "blues" and/or "guitar" in upper, lower, and mixed case, along with variations on those words such as "bluegrass."
   "blues guitar"	Will yield only opportunities with descriptions containing the exact phrase "blues guitar," exactly as you typed it.
   "blues guitar" singer	Will yield only opportunities with descriptions containing the exact phrase "blues guitar" and the word singer.

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4. My search results didn't match my keywords. Why?

   This may be the case because:

    

   • No group or artist on the site uses the same keywords you are using to describe their work.
   • You did not enclose your keyword(s) in double quotes, and the search results include variations on your keyword(s).

    

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5. How is the order of the search results determined?

   The default order of search results is by artist/group name alphabetized. However, you can sort results alphabetically by the artists's state of residence, or by their artistic discipline.

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6. When I searched for an artist, I was given the message, "There is no artist matching your search criteria." What went wrong?

   This message means that SouthernArtistry does not have any artists or groups that meet all of the criteria that you specified in your search. Try searching again with fewer search criteria.

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7. I don't see my profile on this site. What happened?
   In order for your profile to appear on SouthernArtistry.org, you must be an artist who lives in the South and has been nominated by your local state arts agency. Once you have received the nomination, you are given the option to enter your information about yourself through our online artist center or to have SAF enter that information for you. If SAF is building the site for you, please allow 2 weeks from the time that you send your materials to the time your profile is processed and completed.
    
   If you are building yourself and you do not see your profile, please ensure that you have completed these steps:
   
   1) You have provided text-based information for your profile. This means that you have completed the artist profile section by following steps 1-9, hitting ‘save and go to next step’ and finally ‘submit’ until a check mark appears next to the ‘artist profile’ section of your profile. If you do not see a check mark, you have not completed this section.
    
   2) You have provided at least one digital sample of your work. This means that you have submitted at least one eligible work sample. NOTE: All digital work samples go through an approval process.
    
   3) You have indicated a signature sample. In your work sample section, this is the sample in your list of current work samples with the ‘SIG’ label in front of the title. If you do not see this, your profile will not appear and you will need to highlight one of the current samples on your list with your mouse and hit the ‘update’ button. When prompted, ‘Do you want this to be your signature sample?', select the ‘yes’ button. Then make sure to press the ‘submit’ button. If you see a # besides the ‘SIG’ sample, this means the sample is pending approval and you will be emailed when the sample is approved. Until the 'SIG' sample is approved, your profile will be unavialble for viewing.
    
   4) You have entered your URL correctly. In all cases, the direct URL to your page on the registry is your name (or your group’s name) with underscores between every word. For example: www.southernartistry.org/Geraldine_Nash or www.southernartistry.org/Nashville_Mandolin_Ensemble. You must enter this information directly into the address bar of your browser (this is at the very top of your screen) and NOT into the search box of your search engine (i.e. the “search” box provided by Google, Yahoo, or MSN.) Entering this information into the address bar of your browser takes you directly to the site, while entering it into a search box gets you multiple web page listings.

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8. How do I view an artist portfolio?

   Once you have conducted a search and received a list of matching artists, click on the "portfolio" link or on the artist name to see more information and samples of the artist's  work.

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Viewing Work and Contacting Artists on SouthernArtistry

1. How do I view video and play audio samples on my computer?

   When you click "play audio," a wizard will walk you through the steps necessary to locate and connect the proper media player needed to play your file. If the wizard fails to do this, please contact us. For some video files, this will also be the case. However, some video files on the site require Adobe Flash Player. If you have trouble viewing the file, it is likely that you do not yet have Flash Player installed on your computer and you will need to download it here.

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2. How do I contact artists?

   First, you will need to register for a free account. Once you are logged in, there are several options depending on the artist’s preference:

   • Typically, the Contact the Artist/Group link in a portfolio will lead to a form that is routed to the artist’s email, so that they can contact you or send their standard press kit or other material to you.
   • Some artists can only be contacted through their representatives, in which case you should click on the representative's link in the artist portfolio.
   • Some artists do not have an email address or representing agent; artists in this case will provide a phone number.

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How Do I Join?

1. Requirements and contacts:

   All artists on SouthernArtistry must live in the South, have their work adjudicated by their state arts agency, and receive a nomination from that agency. Guidelines and deadlines for nominations vary. Contact information for participating state art agencies can be found here.

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2. What are the benefits of being on SouthernArtistry.org?
   • SouthernArtistry is an adjudicated site. Only artists of recognized artistic merit are invited to participate lending prestige and distinction to selected artists.
   • SouthernArtistry is a free online marketing tool. It provides you with a virtual press kit that interested individuals/potential customers can visit in order to gather information about your work at no cost to you.
   • SouthernArtistry showcase all disciplines for Southern artists making it a valuable resource not only the arts community, but also for arts educators, scholars and tourists who are interested in Southern Arts and Cultural Heritage.

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