Welcome to your library subject page. This has been compiled by your subject librarian and is here to help you find sources for your studio practice and written work. It is not an exhaustive list of everything available, but will point you in the right direction.
OneSearch is a good place to start your research. However as you progress through your course you will need to develop your searching skills to incorporate other sources.
Watch the tutorial below for an introduction to searching or access our Finding Information page for more advice.
Click on the image above or use this link to view the tutorial: How to search tutorial
You can also sign up to our webinar for guidance on how you can develop your search skills.
We have selected some key eresources and individual journal titles to help you locate relevant material for your subject.
Eresources are databases of articles from academic journals and specialist maagzines as well as other scholarly content. Some eresources are subject specific and provide more tailored results.
In addition to these key eresources you can also explore our full A-Z of eresources.
| Eresource | Description | |
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ProQuest Arts Premium | This is a large database encompassing all aspects of the arts including art, design, architecture, humanities, film/screen studies, music, performing arts, and more. A particularly helpful feature is the 'person' search where you can search for material on a specific artist. |
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JSTOR | JSTOR is a highly-respected multidisciplinary database of over 12 million journal articles with a strong emphasis on the arts and humanities, especially philosophy and cultural studies. |
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Taylor and Francis Journals Online | A multidisciplinary database of peer-reviewed journals on a full range of subjects. Over 100 arts journals are included such as Third Text and The Art Bulletin. |
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ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global | ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global is the world's most comprehensive collection of dissertations and theses with a strong representation from the visual arts. Theses are very useful for research as they contain rich bibliographies that you can use to expand your reading. |
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AxisWeb | Especially useful for discovering new artists, Axis contains profiles of contemporary art practitioners. In addition, Axis includes exhibition reviews, interviews and videos on topics such as preparing for degree shows. Content is fully searchable and you can also set up a list of 'favourite' artists so you can follow their work. |
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a-n Resources | a-n Resources acts as an online community for professional artists. Here, you can find materials that will aid your development such as exhibition planning toolkits and advice on artist statements. It's also a place to find jobs, residencies and other opportunities. |
These are the key journals and magazines we subscribe to for yoursubject. Browse the print journal collection in the Library to discover even more. For a full range of titles check our A-Z of journals via Journals Search.
| Journal | Description | |
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ArtForum | At the forefront of the international art scene, ArtForum features reviews, interviews and art news. Online and in print in the Library from 1980 onwards. |
| October | Published by MIT, October is a peer-reviewed journal of contemporary art criticism. Online and in print in the Library from 2012 onwards. | |
| Sculpture | Essays, artist interviews and arts coverage on physical media and beyond. Online and in print in the Library from 1995 onwards. | |
| Flash Art | Highly-esteemed arts magazine with strengths in performance art and installation. In print in the Library from 1995 onwards. | |
| Frieze | Magazine on all aspects of visual culture. Online and in print in the Library from 1996 onwards. | |
| Aesthetica | Particular focus on fine art photography. Email library@cumbria.ac.uk to obtain a login to access the online version. Also available in print in the Library from 2008 onwards. | |
Use your university login to access films, documentaries and tutorials streamed straight to your device.
| Streaming resource | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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LinkedIn Learning | Online tutorials on creative software including Photoshop, Premiere Pro and many more. Also discover content for creatives such as drawing, creative thinking and photography. |
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ArtFilms |
This expansive resource contains all 44 Eye documentaries on individual big-name contemporary artists as well as films on movements and strands within art such as performance art, new media art and scultpture. All available to stream in HD from on and off-campus. |
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Academic Video Online (AVON) | Multidisciplinary video resource on a range of topics including social and cultural documentaries, news items and films. |
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Arts on Film Archive | University of Westminster's repository of films on art and artists produced in the UK since the 1950s. |
When using visual resources, you must be aware of copyright. The databases below provide access to copyright-cleared images for educational use. Remember that you need to provide references for any images of art works you use in your work.
Appropriation is a legitimate art practice that involves the reuse of images or works without making any changes to the original. However, unauthorised or unattributed use of images of art works may mean you are in breach of copyright legislation. This video from LinkedIn Learning explains the difference between appropriation and copyright infringement.
| Images | Description | ||
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Creative Commons | Locate images under Creative Commons licenses for use in studio work and as reference. | |
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VADS | VADS is a carefully curated online archive of art and design. It comprises a wide variety of collections of images and text on all aspects of visual culture from paintings and sculpture to textiles and fashion. The archive can be searched by keyword or you can browse individual collections that pique your interest. | |
| Web Link | Description | |
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ArtQuest | Advice, information and opportunities for visual artists. |
| The Edit | Interactive bibliography of text, audio and visual resources on key themes in art. | |
| British film and video art. | ||
| Reviews, artists features and updates on all aspects of contemporary art. | ||
| Online publishing platform featuring critical essays, editorials and news items. | ||
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The legendary gallery's site is a rich resource on artists and movements. |
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Daily dose of contemporary art content. |
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Organisation for the promotion of performance art. |
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The Museum of Modern Art has an extensive website on artists and art terms. |
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Useful for general awareness of recent art happenings and media reception. |
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Virtual online gallery space of contemporary and modern art. |
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| Help and Advice | Link | |
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If you are experiencing any problems accessing eresources, check our troubleshooting guide for advice. |
Accessing Online Resources |
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If you are experiencing problems logging into a resource, try resetting your university password using the MFA Password Reset Tool. If the problem persists, please contact the IT Service Desk (itservicedesk@cumbria.ac.uk). |
MFA Password Reset |
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The Student Enquiry Point is a new, simpler way to contact Student Services. Using the Student Enquiry Point tile on the Student Hub you can submit an enquiry relating to the wide range of services provided by Student Services. | Student Hub |
