BISAC Subject Headings List, Art
Note: If you need to download and incorporate this list into your databases and systems, click here to obtain an End Users' License Agreement.
If you can't find the code you're looking for please go back and review other Major Subjects to find an alternate code or use our Contact Form to suggest revisions to the next version of the list.
Step 2: Determine the specific term which describes your book.
An asterisk (*) denotes a heading that is new for the 2012 Edition.
Use subjects beginning with "ART / Techniques" for works on the techniques involved within a given discipline and use subjects beginning with "ART / History" for works consisting largely of reproductions of artworks and/or works on the history of art. Be aware that some disciplines have an unsubdivided term and a related term beginning with "ART / Techniques" (e.g., "ART / Sculpture & Installation" and "ART / Techniques / Sculpting"). In these cases, the unsubdivided term should be used for pictorials and works on the history of that discipline and not for books on technique.
Subjects beginning with "ART / Subjects & Themes" are generally meant to be used for works discussing and/or illustrating the subjects and themes specified; however, these subjects can also be assigned to works on the techniques used to produce art depicting these subjects and themes. If a subject beginning with "ART / Subjects & Themes" is used in this way, it is recommended that a subject beginning with "ART / Techniques" be assigned as well.
Subjects beginning with "ART / History" may be used for works on the history of Western or non-Western art. The fact that some subjects beginning with "ART / History" only apply to Western art does not mean that all subjects beginning with "ART / History" only apply to Western art. Subjects such as "ART / African", "ART / Asian" or "ART / European" can also be assigned, and should especially be assigned when this information is not implied by an "ART / History" subject.
Use "ART / Color Theory" for theoretical works on color and use "ART / Techniques / Color" for practical works on techniques for using color in art.
If your title does not have subject content, i.e. a blank book, please use the Non-Classifiable term below. Otherwise, use the Subject/General term in the closest descriptive area.
NON000000 NON-CLASSIFIABLE
Please note that the BISAC Subject Headings List is governed by the following copyright notice.
© 2012, Book Industry Study Group, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of the attached documents may be distributed or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the express permission of the Book Industry Study Group, Inc.
If you can't find the code you're looking for please go back and review other Major Subjects to find an alternate code or use our Contact Form to suggest revisions to the next version of the list.
Step 2: Determine the specific term which describes your book.
An asterisk (*) denotes a heading that is new for the 2012 Edition.
ART
Use subjects in this section for historical works or for works discussing technique from a fine art (as opposed to craft) viewpoint. For works about collecting art or art objects, use subjects in the ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES section. For works discussing technique from a craft viewpoint, use subjects in the CRAFTS & HOBBIES section. For works on general principles of design that can be applied to various disciplines (such as art, architecture, crafts, and technology), use subjects in the DESIGN section.Use subjects beginning with "ART / Techniques" for works on the techniques involved within a given discipline and use subjects beginning with "ART / History" for works consisting largely of reproductions of artworks and/or works on the history of art. Be aware that some disciplines have an unsubdivided term and a related term beginning with "ART / Techniques" (e.g., "ART / Sculpture & Installation" and "ART / Techniques / Sculpting"). In these cases, the unsubdivided term should be used for pictorials and works on the history of that discipline and not for books on technique.
Subjects beginning with "ART / Subjects & Themes" are generally meant to be used for works discussing and/or illustrating the subjects and themes specified; however, these subjects can also be assigned to works on the techniques used to produce art depicting these subjects and themes. If a subject beginning with "ART / Subjects & Themes" is used in this way, it is recommended that a subject beginning with "ART / Techniques" be assigned as well.
Subjects beginning with "ART / History" may be used for works on the history of Western or non-Western art. The fact that some subjects beginning with "ART / History" only apply to Western art does not mean that all subjects beginning with "ART / History" only apply to Western art. Subjects such as "ART / African", "ART / Asian" or "ART / European" can also be assigned, and should especially be assigned when this information is not implied by an "ART / History" subject.
Use "ART / Color Theory" for theoretical works on color and use "ART / Techniques / Color" for practical works on techniques for using color in art.
| ART000000 | ART / General |
| ART015010 | ART / African |
| ART015020 | ART / American / General |
| ART038000 | ART / American / African American |
| ART039000 | ART / American / Asian American |
| ART040000 | ART / American / Hispanic American |
| ART / Animation see PERFORMING ARTS / Animation | |
| ART054000 | ART / Annuals |
| ART037000 | ART / Art & Politics |
| ART019000 | ART / Asian |
| ART042000 | ART / Australian & Oceanian |
| ART / Basic Techniques see headings under Techniques | |
| ART055000 | ART / Body Art & Tattooing |
| ART / Book Design see DESIGN / Book | |
| ART043000 | ART / Business Aspects |
| ART015040 | ART / Canadian |
| ART044000 | ART / Caribbean & Latin American |
| ART045000 | ART / Ceramics |
| ART006000 | ART / Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions / General |
| ART006010 | ART / Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions / Group Shows |
| ART006020 | ART / Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions / Permanent Collections |
| ART007000 | ART / Color Theory |
| ART008000 | ART / Conceptual |
| ART056000 | ART / Conservation & Preservation |
| ART / Costume Design see DESIGN / Textile & Costume | |
| ART009000 | ART / Criticism & Theory |
| ART / Design see headings under DESIGN | |
| ART046000 | ART / Digital |
| ART / Exhibitions see headings under Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions | |
| ART015030 | ART / European |
| ART057000 | ART / Film & Video |
| ART013000 | ART / Folk & Outsider Art |
| ART / Furniture Design see DESIGN / Furniture | |
| ART058000 | ART / Graffiti & Street Art |
| ART015000 | ART / History / General |
| ART015050 | ART / History / Prehistoric & Primitive |
| ART015060 | ART / History / Ancient & Classical |
| ART015070 | ART / History / Medieval |
| ART015080 | ART / History / Renaissance |
| ART015090 | ART / History / Baroque & Rococo |
| ART015120 | ART / History / Romanticism |
| ART015100 | ART / History / Modern (late 19th Century to 1945) |
| ART015110 | ART / History / Contemporary (1945-) |
| ART016000 | ART / Individual Artists / General |
| ART016010 | ART / Individual Artists / Artists' Books |
| ART016020 | ART / Individual Artists / Essays |
| ART016030 | ART / Individual Artists / Monographs |
| ART / Latin American see Caribbean & Latin American | |
| ART047000 | ART / Middle Eastern |
| ART017000 | ART / Mixed Media |
| ART / Museum Administration & Museology see BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Museum Administration & Museology | |
| ART059000 | ART / Museum Studies |
| ART041000 | ART / Native American |
| ART / Oceanian see Australian & Oceanian | |
| ART / Oriental see Asian | |
| ART060000 | ART / Performance |
| ART023000 | ART / Popular Culture |
| ART048000 | ART / Prints |
| ART / Product Design see DESIGN / Product | |
| ART025000 | ART / Reference |
| ART049000 | ART / Russian & Former Soviet Union |
| ART026000 | ART / Sculpture & Installation |
| ART027000 | ART / Study & Teaching |
| ART050000 | ART / Subjects & Themes / General |
| ART050050 | ART / Subjects & Themes / Erotica |
| ART050010 | ART / Subjects & Themes / Human Figure |
| ART050020 | ART / Subjects & Themes / Landscapes & Seascapes |
| ART050030 | ART / Subjects & Themes / Plants & Animals |
| ART050040 | ART / Subjects & Themes / Portraits |
| ART035000 | ART / Subjects & Themes / Religious |
| ART028000 | ART / Techniques / General |
| ART031000 | ART / Techniques / Acrylic Painting |
| ART002000 | ART / Techniques / Airbrush |
| ART003000 | ART / Techniques / Calligraphy |
| ART004000 | ART / Techniques / Cartooning |
| ART051000 | ART / Techniques / Color |
| ART010000 | ART / Techniques / Drawing |
| ART052000 | ART / Techniques / Life Drawing |
| ART018000 | ART / Techniques / Oil Painting |
| ART020000 | ART / Techniques / Painting |
| ART021000 | ART / Techniques / Pastel Drawing |
| ART033000 | ART / Techniques / Pen & Ink Drawing |
| ART034000 | ART / Techniques / Pencil Drawing |
| ART024000 | ART / Techniques / Printmaking |
| ART053000 | ART / Techniques / Sculpting |
| ART029000 | ART / Techniques / Watercolor Painting |
| ART / Textile Design see DESIGN / Textile & Costume | |
| ART / Video see Film & Video |
If your title does not have subject content, i.e. a blank book, please use the Non-Classifiable term below. Otherwise, use the Subject/General term in the closest descriptive area.
NON000000 NON-CLASSIFIABLE
Please note that the BISAC Subject Headings List is governed by the following copyright notice.
© 2012, Book Industry Study Group, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of the attached documents may be distributed or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the express permission of the Book Industry Study Group, Inc.











