Theatre Information Group (TIG) Performing arts catalogues and documentation

This area provides an overview of available performing arts documentation in the UK. The most important starting point in finding such information is Backstage, which provides a single point of entry for finding and searching performing arts collections in the UK. TIG Members include those institutions responsible for much of the UKs performing arts heritage, and many of these have online catalogues of their holdings. ther useful gateways are available, particularly for international collections, general !i.e. not "ust performing arts# archives, libraries and museums, and for specific sub"ect areas such as opera. To ade$uately document or research the performing arts, it is necessary to %now what was performed, and where and when it was performed. TIG has led an important and e&citing pro"ect to e&plore the idea of a national performance database covering past and current UK performances !the 'ational (erformance )ata (ro"ect#.

Backstage
*ac%stage provides a single point of entry for finding and searching performing arts collections in the UK. It is aimed at the research community, plus anyone with an interest in the performing arts. It contains+ a directory of institutions collection level descriptions selected item level records *ac%stage is funded as part of the ,esearch -upport .ibraries (rogramme and replaces the printed version of the Theatre Museum/s 0)irectory of (erforming 1rts ,esources0. .in%+ www.bac%stage.ac.u%

SIBMAS Directory
The -I*M1- International Directory of Performing Arts Collections and Institutions lists over 2333 international institutions with material relating to the performing arts !theatre, opera, music, ballet, film, circus, radio, television, cabaret and pantomime#. 'ot only basic information about the institution is provided, but also information about collections found within the institutions. 1s well as the collections of TIG members and other ma"or institutions, the )irectory includes details of many hundreds of smaller and less well4%nown performing arts collections in the UK. It is also worth remembering that performing arts collections relating to the UK may be held overseas. .in%+ www.sibmas.org5idpac5inde&.html

ther !esources
"#I$PA The 6uropean 'etwor% of Information 7entres for the (erforming 1rts !6'I7(1# aims to function as a meeting place for information and documentation organisations. The main goal of the

networ% is to distribute and to ma%e available a broad range of information about the professional performing arts to arts professionals world wide. n their web site you can find information about 6uropean festivals, venues, publications, training opportunities and information centres. .in%+ www.enicpa.org Intute (Arts and %umanities) 7reated by a networ% of UK universities and partners, Intute is a free online service providing access to 8eb resources for education and research, selected and evaluated by sub"ect specialists. There are over 9:,333 8eb resources that are freely available by %eyword searching and browsing. .in%+ www.intute.ac.u%5artsandhumanities A%DS Performing Arts The 1rts and ;umanities )ata -ervice !1;)-# is a UK national service aiding the discovery, creation and preservation of digital resources in and for research, teaching and learning in the arts and humanities. 1;)- (erforming 1rts supports research, learning and teaching with high $uality and dependable digital resources related to music, dance, theatre, radio, film, television, and performance. .in%+ www.ahds.ac.u%5performingarts Palatine Directory (1.1TI'6 is the UK -ub"ect 7entre for )ance, )rama and Music, established in <333 to support and enhance learning and teaching in performing arts higher education. The )irectory houses appro&imately =333 reviewed online resources on ma"or themes and issues in the performing arts. .in%+ www.palatine.ac.u% $ecilia & IAM' (() * Irl) 7ecilia is an on4line guide to music collections in archives, libraries and museums in the UK and Ireland. It is administered by the United Kingdom > Ireland *ranch of the International 1ssociation of Music .ibraries, 1rchives and )ocumentation 7entres !I1M.!UK > Irl##, which e&ists to represent and promote the interests of music librarians and libraries, music?related archives and music information providers. .in%+ www.cecilia4u%.org5html .in%+ www.iaml4u%4irl.org Touchstone & Shakespeare $entre !esources The aim of Touchstone is to facilitate and encourage research in -ha%espeare studies that will benefit both the academic and the wider community. It includes a database of significant -ha%espeare collections at five UK institutions. -ha%espeare 7entre .ibrary and 1rchive also provide a variety of research materials through their website. .in%+ www.touchstone.bham.ac.u% .in%+ www.sha%espeare.org.u%5content5view5935935 pera+ase perabase aims to provide comprehensive information about opera performances, artists and productions worldwide, in <3 languages. .in%+ www.operabase.com $ PA$ 7 (17 provides free access to the merged online catalogues of <= ma"or university research libraries in the UK and Ireland plus the *ritish .ibrary, the 'ational .ibrary of -cotland, and the 'ational .ibrary of 8ales5.lyfrgell Genedlaethol 7ymru. .in%+ www.copac.ac.u% #ational !egister of Archi,es (#!A)

The ',1 contains information on the nature and location of manuscripts and historical records that relate to *ritish history. .in%+ www.nationalarchives.gov.u%5nra Archi,es %u+ 1rchives ;ub is a national gateway to descriptions of archives in UK universities and colleges. .in%+ www.archiveshub.ac.u% $ornucopia 7ornucopia is an online database of information about more than @,333 collections in the UK/s museums, galleries, archives and libraries. .in%+ www.cornucopia.org.u% British (ni,ersities -ilm and .ideo $ouncil (B(-.$) The *UAB7 promotes and supports the use of moving images and related media in UK higher and further education, and the use of moving images in research generally. It achieves this through a variety of services, databases, publications and other activities. .in%+ www.bufvc.ac.u% -ilm 'inks Gate/ay (British -ilm institute) Ailm .in%s Gateway provides a wide reaching selection of websites relating to film and media. It is researched and edited by Information -ervices in the bfi 'ational .ibrary. .in%+ www.bfi.org.u%5filmtvinfo5gateway Arts Archi,e 1 database of performances, plays, people and productions in the UK from the mid49CC3s onwards. .in%+ www.arts4archive.co.u% .ast updated+ 9C -ept <33: