This document outlines VRA Core 4.0, a descriptive metadata standard developed by the Visual Resources Association for cataloguing works of visual culture and their images. It describes what VRA Core is, which types of materials can be catalogued using it, and provides examples of its minimal required elements and optional descriptive elements. The standard provides a categorical system for describing works, agents, locations, dates, and other attributes to identify and explain visual resources. It is not intended as a technical or rights metadata standard.

1. VRA Core 4.0

2. Outline
• What is Visual Reference Assocation?
• What is VRA Core 4.0?
• What VRA Core 4.0 is not?
• What can be catalogued using VRA Core 4.0?
• Minimal elements
• Elements
• Examples

3. What is Visual Resources
Association?
• The international associaton of image
media professionals;
• Multi-disciplinary organization dedicated
to furthering research and education in
field of image management;
• They offer educational tools and
opportunities for the benefit of the
community;

4. What is VRA Core 4.0?
• First version in 1996, latest in 2007;
• Resembles Dublin Core;
• Descriptive metadata standard for the cultural
heritage community;
• The standard provides a categorical organization
for the description of works of visual culture as
well as the images that document them;

5. What VRA Core 4.0 is not?
• Not a data content standard;
• Not a technical or rights metadata
standard;

6. What can be catalogued using VRA
Core 4.0?
• Architecture and architecture models;
• Decorative arts;
• Manuscripts and book arts;
• Paintings, prints, drawings;
• Performances and installation arts;
• Photograps and films;
• Sculptures;
• Cultural documentation and didactic
materials;

7. Minimal elements
• WORK TYPE – what;
• TITLE – what;
• AGENT – who;
• LOCATION – where;
• DATE – when;
Example: Kiss of Judas, one of the panels of
the Life of Christ cycle

8. Elements
• work, collection, or
image (id)
• agent
- attribution
- culture
- dates (type)
o earliestDate (circa)
o latestDate (circa)
- name (type)
- role
• culturalContext
• date (type)
- earliestDate (circa)
- latestDate (circa)
• description
• inscription
- author
- position
- text (type)
• location (type)
- name (type)
- refid (type)
• material (type)
• measurements (type,
unit)
• relation (type, relids)
• rights (type)
- rightsHolder
- text
• source
- name (type)
- refid (type)
• stateEdition (count,
num, type)
- description
- name
• stylePeriod
• subject
- term (type)
• technique
• textref
- name (type)
- refid (type)
• title ( type)
• worktype

9. Thank You for your attention!
Patryk Koprowicz