Welcome to the VRA Core 4.0
VRA Core 4.0 is a data standard for the cultural heritage community that was developed by the Visual Resources Association's Data Standards Committee. It consists of a metadata element set (units of information such as title, location, date, etc.), as well as an initial blueprint for how those elements can be hierarchically structured. The element set provides a categorical organization for the description of works of visual culture as well as the images that document them.
The METS Editorial Board officially endorsed the VRA Core 4.0 Schemas (release version 4/9/07). This endorsement confirms the VRA Core 4.0 schemas (both restricted and unrestricted) are in synch with nationally-recognized metadata standards and will work well as an extension schema for any METS objects that contain images of cultural heritage resources.
VRA Core 4.0 Documentation
VRA Core 4.0 Introduction (PDF)
VRA Core 4.0 Element Outline (PDF)
VRA Core 4.0 Element Description and Tagging Examples (PDF)
VRA Core 4.0 Schemas (release version 4/9/07)
Unrestricted Version - specifies the basic structure of the schema
Restricted Version - extends the unrestricted schema by adding controlled type lists and date formats
Restricted Schema Type Values (PDF)
Explanation of changes between VRA Core 4.0 beta version and VRA Core 4.0 release version
Related Standards
CCO
METS
CDWA
Getty Vocabularies
Metadata Crosswalk
Presentations Related to the Core
Got Metadata? A presentation on VRA Core 4.0 XML, Summer Educational Institute, June 2007 (PDF)
Strategies for Data Migration in the Age of CCO and VRA Core 4.0, VRA Conference, March 2007
Cataloging in VRA Core 4.0 & CCO, OLAC Conference, Oct 2006 (PDF)
VRA Core is developed and maintained by the Visual Resources Association’s Data Standards Committee (DSC). For questions and inquiries about the Core standard please contact the Data Standards Committee.
