Manuscript Preparation

Authors should read the aims and scope before preparing a submission. A manuscript must be original, approved by all authors and not under consideration by another journal.

Types of paper

  • Research article: a full historical, theoretical, empirical or interpretive study.
  • Review article: a critical assessment of a field, body of scholarship or significant cultural question. Systematic reviews must report their search and selection method.
  • Practice-research paper: an inquiry in which creative practice forms part of the method and is documented for critical assessment.
  • Critical essay or case study: a focused analysis of works, performances, institutions, communities, exhibitions, archives or cultural practices with relevance beyond the individual case.
  • Short communication: a concise report of a significant method, finding, intervention or curatorial development.

Files for double-blind review

Submit a separate title page and an anonymized manuscript. The title page should contain author names, affiliations, corresponding-author details, ORCID iDs where available, funding, competing interests and author contributions. Remove names, acknowledgements and identifying file properties from the review file.

Critical and practice-based methods

State the research or creative question, theoretical position, sources, selection criteria and analytical or practice-based method. Practice research should distinguish the creative work from the claims made through reflection and documentation.

Works, media and documentation

Identify works accurately by creator, title, date, medium, venue, collection or source where relevant. Images, scores, scripts, stills and audiovisual material must have clear captions, credits and permissions. Translations should name the translator or be identified as the author's own.

Participants, communities and cultural knowledge

Research involving interviews, observation, personal data or identifiable participants requires appropriate ethics review or informed consent. Community-engaged work should explain participation and permission. Sacred, Indigenous, traditional or restricted cultural knowledge must be treated according to relevant community and custodial expectations.

Research materials and access

Include a Research Materials or Data Availability Statement. Identify archives, collections, repositories or supporting documentation where access is lawful. Explain restrictions arising from privacy, cultural sensitivity, copyright, performer rights or contractual obligations.

Authorship and AI

Authorship is limited to people who made a substantial contribution, approved the submitted version and accept responsibility for the work. Creative collaborators should be credited accurately. AI tools cannot be authors. Material use of generative AI in writing, translation, analysis, sound, image or other media preparation must be disclosed.

Submission status

Online submissions are temporarily closed while CACS completes its editorial setup. This page will be updated when submissions open.