The archives of many institutions contain artists’ records -- documents created by artists that often bear witness to the creative process, as evinced by sketches, doodles, and other notations. Artists’ records differ from other types of records due to their inherent connection to the art object and the art market. In recent years there has been a plethora of symposia and conferences dedicated to artist archives, art history and “the archive,” as well as to the use of archival materials by contemporary artists. While crucial, these investigations have been driven almost entirely by art historians and have not included the perspectives of archivists and special collections librarians. As part of an effort to broaden the discussion surrounding artists’ records, the Archivists Round Table of Metropolitan New York has organized a two day symposium, “Artists’ Records in the Archives,” to be held on October 11th and 12th 2011. Focusing on the perspective of the information professional, this symposium will address how contemporary artists use artists’ records in their work, the significance of artists’ records in archives for scholars and curators, and how archivists and special collections librarians manage artists’ records in their repositories.

Possible topics or areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Artists’ use of other artists’ records

• How archivists manage artists’ records and how this might differ within a museum, estate, gallery, and university setting

• Collecting artists’ records

• Appraisal of artists’ records

• Underdocumented artists and the archives

• Exhibitions and artists’ records

• Artists’ records and the digital environment

• Born digital artists’ records

• Copyright, moral rights, and the artist

• Conversations between archivists, artists, and art historians regarding archives

Date: October 11 - 12, 2011

All individual presentations will be 20 minutes long (10 page paper).

Submissions must include a title, name of author and institutional affiliation, abstract (250 words max), and indication of technological requirements.

Individual papers or entire panel proposals accepted.

A small travel stipend is available. If interested please indicate in the submission.

Deadline for Proposals: Proposals should be emailed to artistsymposium@gmail.com by August 15, 2011.