english translation by
Irene Amore

1. BTA
   
   • 1.1 - To whom is BTA addressed to ?
     
   • 1.2 - What are the areas of interest ?
     
   • 1.3 - Does BTA have images ?
     
   • 1.4 - Which are BTA's official languages ?
     
   • 1.5 - How can I be kept updated ?
     
   • 1.6 - To whom can I send press releases ?
     
   • 1.7 - Does BTA have a selling price ?
     
   • 1.8 - Does BTA welcome advertising in its pages ?
     
     
     
2. CONTRIBUTORS
   
   • 2.1 - Who can write on BTA ?
     
   • 2.2 - Who can become a contributor for BTA ?
     
   • 2.3 - How can I become a contributor for BTA ?
   • 2.4 - How does a contributor for BTA resign ?
   • 2.5 - Is there any commitment required from contributors ?
     
   • 2.6 - What are the moral advantages for the contributors ?
     
   • 2.7 - What are the more practical advantages for the contributors ?
     
   • 2.8 - How much does the subscription cost ?
     
   • 2.9 - Are contributions paid ?
     
   • 2.10 - Can a contributor for BTA be considered as a volunteer because his or her articles are not paid ?
     
   • 2.11 - What are the levels of contributions within BTA ?
     
   • 2.12 - What is required in order to move from one level to the next ?
     
   • 2.13 - Why different levels of contribution ?
     
   • 2.14 - What kind of letterhead should a contributor for BTA adopt ?
   • 2.15 - Is it implied that a contributor for BTA is provided with personalised business cards ?
   • 2.16 - Do contributors for BTA have a card ?
   • 2.17 - Is the BTA card equivalent to a press card ?
     
     
3. CONTRIBUTIONS
   
   • 3.1 - Who should I contact ?
     
   • 3.2 - What can I write ?
     
   • 3.3 - What cannot I write ?
     
   • 3.4 - Is there a maximum length for contributions ?
     
   • 3.5 - Are all submitted articles published ?
     
   • 3.6 - How long does it take to have submitted articles published ?
   • 3.7 - Can a contributor withdraw an article after submission ?
   • 3.8 - To which address are articles to be sent ?
   • 3.9 - In which format are articles to be sent ?
   • 3.10 - Are unpublished articles returned ?
   • 3.11 - Are images accompanying articles returned ?
   • 3.12 - Are articles published without following any specific order ?
   • 3.13 - Is it possible for a contributor to send an additional and amended version of an article already submitted?
   • 3.14 - Who is responsible for deciding in which area of interest the submitted article will be published ?
   • 3.15 - Who is responsible for sending articles to the interested press offices ?
     
     
4. BOOKINGS
   
   • 4.1 - What's the reason behind the contributors' coordination within BTA ?
     
   • 4.2 - What is the tool which makes this coordination possible ?
     
   • 4.3 - Who is enabled to participate to the contributors' mailing list ?
     
   • 4.4 - How do I subscribe to the contributors' mailing list ?
     
   • 4.5 - Is the article's booking compulsory ?
     
   • 4.6 - How do contributors sign up for an event ?
     
   • 4.7 - What if I do not have an email address ?
     
   • 4.8 - What is the booking number ?
     
   • 4.9 - What criteria are followed for the bookings' confirmation ?
     
   • 4.10 - Is it possible that a number of contributors sign up for the same article ?
     
   • 4.11 - Is there a limit to the number of bookings a contributor can apply for ?
     
   • 4.12 - Does the booking guarantee the article's publication ?
     
   • 4.13 - Once the booking is confirmed, what should a contributor do ?
   • 4.14 - Can a contributor confirm his or her own booking on behalf of BTA ?
   • 4.15 - Is there a deadline for the delivery of articles after confirmation of booking ?
   • 4.16 - What happens if a contributor does not submit an article as signed up for ?
     
     
5. TRANSLATIONS
   
   • 5.1 - In which languages is BTA published ?
     
   • 5.2 - What is the main language spoken in BTA ?
     
   • 5.3 - Does BTA publish articles only in Italian and English ?
     
   • 5.4 - What happens if a contributor only submits one version (italian or english)?
   • 5.5 - Is it possible to publish articles in languages other than Italian and English ?
     
     
6. EDITORS
   
   • 6.1 - Who are the editors ?
     
   • 6.2 - Why should I want to become an editor ?
     
   • 6.3 - What are the moral advantages for editors ?
     
   • 6.4 - What are the practical advantages for editors ?
     
   • 6.5 - What are the requirements to become part of the editorial ?
   • 6.6 - Are editors paid ?
   • 6.7 - What is an editorial project ?
   • 6.8 - Where are the editorial projects published ?
   • 6.9 - What is "Wonder - MIRABILIA URBIS ROMAE" ?
   • 6.10 - What are the editorial tasks?
     
     

1. BTA
   

   • 1.1 To whom is BTA addressed to ?
     As a magazine, BTA (Telematic Bullettin of Art) is addressed to all individuals interested in cultural topics, and aims to spread a diverse critical and scientific understanding of arts. Through Arte on Line, the historical-artistic network for universities, it is addressed to all Art Research Institutions around the world and aims to optimise our use of human and scientific resources.

   • 1.2 What are the areas of interest?
     BTA is organised in different areas of interest, but, due to the BTA's hypertext structure, each article can be read through a number of links.

   • 1.3 Does BTA have images ?
     BTA is fully multimedia: it accepts high definition colour pictures, sounds and videos.

   • 1.4 Which are BTA's official languages ?
     Italian is BTA's mother-tongue, but English is adopted for international communication. It also accepts texts in French, Spanish and German, as far as they are presented with both an Italian and English translation.

   • 1.5 How can I be kept updated ?
     Subscribing to the BTA mailing-list.

   • 1.6 To whom can I send press releases ?
     To BTA Press Office, where you can find all sort of information, including press reviews, images to be published, and so on.

   • 1.7 Does BTA have a selling price ?
     No. BTA refrains from any business trade on any published information. Copyright is lent for free by contributors to have the related articles published on a non-profit basis.

   • 1.8 Does BTA welcome advertising in its pages ?
     No. Advertising has seriously influenced many magazine's life, and BTA has decided to totally reject it.

2. CONTRIBUTORS
   

   • 2.1 Who can write on BTA ?
     Only contributors who have subscribed.

   • 2.2 Who can become a contributor for BTA ?
     Whoever enjoys discussing cultural issues, in particular university students, and appreciates his or her opinions being voiced around the world.

   • 2.3 How do I become a contributor for BTA ?
     After publication of your name in the official list of contributors, which happens in conjunction with the publication of your first article.

   • 2.4 How does a contributor for BTA resign ?
     Only through a written request on paper addressed to BTA’s main office. Resignation is effective since when the contributor’s name is published in the list of resigned contributors.

   • 2.5 Is there any commitment required from contributors ?
     Only to comply with the Regulations and with the updated FAQs. Contributions are independent and voluntary.

   • 2.6 What are the moral advantages for the contributors ?
     Of all sorts: just think that without all contributors presently subscribed, BTA would not exist !!! From our contributors' articles major projects can blossom.

   • 2.7 What are the more practical advantages for the contributors ?
     Each contributor has a particular code, a personal page on the web with a specific address. This page can also include a Curriculum Vitae in two languages which will be read all over the world. Advantages increase at each level of contribution.

   • 2.8 How much does the subscription cost ?
     Subscription to BTA is free. There are no fees at any level of contribution.

   • 2.9 Are contributions paid ?
     No. BTA is a non-profit magazine and contributions are, therefore, not paid.

   • 2.10 Can a contributor for BTA be considered as a volunteer because his or her articles are not paid ?
     Voluntary work implies an unpaid and unsecured transfer of workmanship to others; on the contrary, within BTA the contributors’ participation is achieved through the free expression of one’s ideas and opinions according to a partial lending of copyright. Contributors’ participation to BTA represents the fulfillment of our primary civil right to communicate and, therefore, differs thoroughly from any sort of voluntary work.
     In order to clarify the difference between voluntary work and contributions to BTA, we can consider the difference between a volunteer for the civil defense, who can be easily replaced by another volunteer or even by an employer, and a contributor for BTA, who cannot, at any time, be substituted by any other contributor.
     Although BTA offers information, its contributors do not just provide the public with information, as it happens in most magazines, but expressively exercise their right to communicate their ideas and opinions. In addition, while a volunteer does not receive any salary whatsoever from his or her activity, BTA’s copyright agreement, mentioned in the BTA Regulations, allows contributors to make a profit from their articles, but only outside BTA and without any intervention from BTA, for instance when others show an interest in acquiring copyright on an article published by BTA. In fact, according to the BTA Regulations, contributors only lend their articles’ copyright to BTA on the condition that the same articles are published and ideas are disseminated only on a non-profit basis. Contributors are only committed to mention BTA within any new and further publication curated by others. According to this formula, BTA aims at guaranteeing the free circulation of ideas, and is not interested in obtaining any compensation nor making any profit for itself. Again, contribution to BTA cannot be classified simply as voluntary work, but more appropriately as deed of open and independent communication as according to our Permanent Manifesto on Art & Communication.

     [The Permanent Manifesto on Art & Communication was conceived when BTA was founded in 1994. This text was published for the first time on 28 February 2000 in bta-collaboratori@bta.it mailing list, and has been now revised and amended.]

   • 2.11 What are the levels of contributions within BTA ?
     Contributors for BTA are distributed in the following levels:
     • Prospective contributors
     • Contributors
     • Active contributors

   • 2.12 What is required in order to move from one level to the next ?
     In order to become "prospective contributors", fill the relevant application form. After receipt of the application at the editorial, prospective contributors is subscribed to the contributors’ mailing list and can ask to book for specific events.

     The qualification of "contributor" is acquired in conjunction with the publication of the first article. Contributors can ask for a priority booking over prospective contributors.

     The qualification of "active contributor" is given upon decision of the coordinator, in consultation with the editorial, to contributors who have published at least three articles and then at least two articles per year, following publication of the third contribution. All articles are to be published in both Italian and English. All active contributors are provided with BTA card.

   • 2.13 Why different levels of contribution ?
     All contributors are obviously equal, but their activity and commitment towards BTA varies. As our idea of Communication in Arts cannot be achieved through an one-off contribution, the editorial has decided to offer more advantages to those contributors who have objectively give evidence of continuously and actively having partecipated. This evidence represents a necessary but not sufficient requirement to reach the next level. In other words, contributors without this evidence cannot reach the next level; however, not all contributors showing this evidence are necessarily accepted.

   • 2.14 What kind of letterhead should a contributor for BTA adopt ?
     Contributors must adopt their personal letterhead. In fact, they are freelance, and BTA only publishes their articles but do not acquire their copyright. As mentioned, BTA publishes articles only on a non-profit basis. BTA has a centralised coordinated structure only to avoid contributions' overlapping. Any communication from contributors on behalf of BTA to others can be addressed to the coordinator for comments.

   • 2.15 Is it implied that a contributor for BTA is provided with personalised business cards ?
     Yes. Active BTA contributors' business cards include email address, website details, telephone and fax numbers. Business cards are forwarded to contributors regularly subscribed only upon request.

   • 2.16 Do contributors for BTA have a card ?
     BTA card is provided only to active contributors and editors.

   • 2.17 Is the BTA card equivalent to a press card ?
     No. Contributions to BTA does not automatically qualify contributors as journalist. BTA card is only meant to identify its contributors.

3. CONTRIBUTIONS
   

   • 3.1 Who should I contact ?
     Please send an email to BTA addresses, or to the area editor, if applicable.

   • 3.2 What can I write ?
     You can submit an informative article, a review for an exhibition or for a book; an interview to an artist or to a museum's director … BTA also welcomes academic and historical essays.

   • 3.3 What cannot I write ?
     BTA does not accept any form of advertisement, direct or indirect, to any trade business. However, BTA accepts, for instance, reviews on contemporary artists' exhibitions in galleries where artworks are meant to be sold. Cum grano salis ...

   • 3.4 Is there a maximum length for contributions ?
     No, however articles should be at least of 2000 characters. Generally, BTA is more interested in the critical value and commitment of the texts than in their shortcut information.

   • 3.5 Are all submitted articles published ?
     No.

   • 3.6 How long does it take to have submitted articles published ?
     Articles submitted to BTA are usually published in progressive order within 7 days from date of receipt of the signed copy on paper.

   • 3.7 Can a contributor withdraw an article after submission ?
     No. Articles regularly signed on a copy on paper and sent to the editorial cannot be withdrawn.

   • 3.8 To which address are articles to be sent ?
     Articles are to be sent as attachments to an email only to the following address: testi@bta.it Articles sent to other addresses will not be published. In addition, while awaiting for the so called "digital signature", it is compulsory to send a copy on paper by post to the main BTA office (Via Francesco Ferrara, 8 - 00191 Rome - Italy). Copies on paper are to be clearly addressed to BTA on the front page as well as on the envelope, and signed on each page. Articles of which a copy on paper has not been received as according to the above instructions, will not be published. It is highly recommended to send the signed copy on paper as soon as possible in order for the editorial to proceed with its publication according to the given deadlines.

   • 3.9 In which format are articles to be sent ?
     Texts are to be saved in one of the following formats:
     HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) or
     RTF (Rich Text Format)
     Contributors who do not have access to the web can submit their articles on HD floppy disks (1,44 MB), suitably protected in bubblebag or floppy disk bags in order to avoid damages during the postal journey.

   • 3.10 Are unpublished articles returned ?
     Articles not published are not returned, but the contributor will be kept informed.

   • 3.11 Are images accompanying articles returned ?
     No.

   • 3.12 Are articles published without following any specific order ?
     No. Articles submitted to BTA are given a progressive number, according to date and time of their reception at testi@bta.it (as indicated in the email Header - minutes and seconds will be accounted for). Date and time of receipt are shown in a special META within each article's HTML format.
     Example: <META name="data Presentazione"content="2000-07-11T12:30:22+0100">

   • 3.13 Is it possible for a contributor to send an additional and amended version of an article already submitted ?
     No. BTA does not accept multiple copies of the same article.

   • 3.14 Who is responsible for deciding in which area of interest the submitted article will be published ?
     The editorial staff, and its decisions on this matter are unquestionable.

   • 3.15 Who is responsible for sending articles to the interested press offices ?
     Contributors who have booked for a specific event are responsible for ensuring that their article is forwarded to the interested press office. The sooner the article is forwarded the better.

4. BOOKINGS
   

   • 4.1 What's the reason behind the contributors' coordination within BTA ?
     Contributors' activity is coordinated within BTA in order to avoid overlapping of articles similar in nature.

   • 4.2 What is the tool which makes this coordination possible ?
     Contributors’ coordination is made possible through a special mailing list called bta- collaboratori@bta.it; within this list contributors receive proposals on events that can be booked for a review, to be published on BTA.

   • 4.3 Who is enabled to participate to the contributors' mailing list ?
     Only contributors regularly subscribed can be signed for bta-collaboratori@bta.it.

   • 4.4 How do I subscribe to the contributors' mailing list ?
     Through application to the senior editor at the following email address: www@bta.it

   • 4.5 Is the article's booking compulsory ?
     The article's booking is compulsory when there is a risk of overlapping which can cause confusion and waste of time not only within BTA but also within other agencies involved, such as press offices, artists, museums directors and so on.

   • 4.6 How do contributors sign up for an event ?
     Contributors sign up for an event to be reviewed through an application sent to the editorial to the following address: redazione@bta.it
     Bookings made on any other email addresses will not be considered.

   • 4.7 What if I do not have an email address ?
     Contributors who do not have an email address can sign up in one of the following ways:
     
     • By FAX: 0039 06 36292386
       
     • By answerphone: 0039 06 36308996 (24 hrs)
       
     • By post: BTA Editorial - Bollettino Telematico dell'Arte, Via Francesco Ferrara 8, 00191 Roma (Italy)

   • 4.8 What is the booking number ?
     It is a number given to each contributor by the booking officer in order to confirm the contributor's request to cover a specific event.
     Without a specific booking number, contributors for BTA, although generally identified, will not be recognised for a specific event. In addition, contributors without booking number cannot contact agencies involved in the event, which are informed of this procedure in advance and invited not to accept contributors without a booking number. This procedure guarantees the contributor's full independence as well as a better internal efficiency.
     The booking number is given by the booking officer according to the date and time when the request appears in the contributors' mailing list, bta-collaboratori@bta.it. If necessary, the senior editor and the booking officer allow bookings of two or more contributors on the same event, giving announcement in the mailing list bta-collaboratori@bta.it

   • 4.9 What criteria are followed for the bookings' confirmation ?
     Bookings are confirmed according to date and time when the application is made in the contributors' mailing list. Contributors can also sign up for events already booked, and they will be placed in a waiting list; they could eventually gain the booking if the previous booking drops.
     Contributors without email address can send their applications as mentioned above. Applications will be transmitted in mailing list by the booking officer as soon as they are received (date and time of receipt are accounted for).
     The senior editor reserves the right to modify confirmation of bookings if and when necessary.

   • 4.10 Is it possible that a number of contributors sign up for the same article ?
     It is possible only when an event requires a more thorough examination from different points of view. In this case contributors are asked to coordinate their interventions.

   • 4.11 Is there a limit to the number of bookings a contributor can apply for ?
     Theorically, there is no limit, but BTA highly recommends contributors to sign up for as many events as they are able to efficiently and thoroughly cover.

   • 4.12 Does the booking guarantee the article's publication?
     No.

   • 4.13 Once the booking is confirmed, what should a contributor do ?
     Once the booking is confirmed, the contributor should read the related press release on http://www.bta.it/ammi/stampa/comunicati/index.html, then directly contact the press officer mentioned in the press release, in order to verify private view date and time, and confirm his or her attendance.

   • 4.14 Can a contributor confirm his or her own booking on behalf of BTA ?
     In order to ease the BTA's organisation, contributors are invited to directly confirm their attendance to a specific event with the related press office. If contributors find difficult to obtain confirmations, BTA can contact press offices upon contributors' request.

   • 4.15 Is there a deadline for the delivery of articles after confirmation of booking ?
     As contributors' activity for BTA is free, there are no rigid deadlines. However, it is hoped that contributors write their articles before the private view or the event's opening to the public and anyway not later than the event's last day.

   • 4.16 What happens if a contributor does not submit an article as signed up for ?
     Being a contributor to BTA does not involve any strict duty, as mentioned in our Regulations. However, if a contributor does not submit his or her article, the senior editor and the booking officer reserve the right to deny further bookings in the future, or to cancel other outstanding bookings until receipt of the due article.

5. TRANSLATIONS
   

   • 5.1 In which languages is BTA published ?
     Italian and English. BTA has been published in bilingual version since the new magazine's version started on 25 January 1999 with article no. 149.

   • 5.2 What is the main language spoken in BTA ?
     Italian

   • 5.3 Does BTA publish articles only in Italian and English ?
     No, but in order to keep up with the translation workload without delaying publication, contributors in Italian can submit the English version of their article at a later stage, and the same is for contributors in English submitting the Italian version of their article.

   • 5.4 What happens if a contributor only submits one version (italian or english) ?
     Nothwithstanding it is hoped to receive both versions Italian and English at the same time, it is allowed to publish only up to three articles without translation. BTA will publish the forth article in Italian only after submission of the first article's English translation. The same is valid for English writers and the Italian translation of their articles.

   • 5.5 Is it possible to publish articles in languages other than Italian and English ?
     It is possible to publish articles in languages other than Italian and English, but only if they submitted with an accompanying translation in Italian or English.

6. TRANSLATIONS
   

   • 6.1 Who are the editors ?
     They are contributors who not only write articles, but actively participate to the magazine's life or to a supplement, a special issue or a special feature.

   • 6.2 Why should I become an editor ?
     To get more actively involved in the magazine's life, beyond a single article's conception.

   • 6.3 What are the moral advantages for editors ?
     Producing communication and culture beyond the market's rule, therefore enabling oneself to «dominate the market» with the strength of ideas and cultural debate.

   • 6.4 What are the practical advantages for editors ?
     Direct confirmation and support in all national and international press offices, and more ...

   • 6.5 What are the requirements to become part of the editorial ?
     
     • Being active contributors, writing at least one article.
     • Having an email address
     • Having an editorial project or task approved.

   • 6.6 Are editors paid ?
     No.

   • 6.7 What is an editorial project ?
     It is a proposal of discussion and further analysis on specific topics never tackled before, taken from the Permanent Manifesto on Art & Communication, expressively addressed to all readers and contributors in order to expand the notion and practice of Communication on Art.

   • 6.8 Where are the editorial projects published ?
     Editorial projects are given a progressive number as any other article, but they are published in a specific area called " Wonder - MIRABILIA URBIS ROMAE".

   • 6.9 What is " Wonder - MIRABILIA URBIS ROMAE" ?
     It is a BTA supplement. As in other magazines on paper, BTA has its own supplement which is dedicated to the publication of the Permanent Manifesto on Art & Communication and to the editorial projects.

   • 6.10 What are the editorial tasks ?
     They are the various organisational and administrative activities carried out by the editors. For instance: mailing-list administration, website control and management, translation of articles in HTML, articles' proofreading, articles' classification, bookings management within BTA and with press offices, application forms' layout, cards' production and delivery to contributors, etc.