Standards of Engagement
How Artlance ensures commissioned writing addresses the right subject matter
What is the SOE?
The Standards of Engagement (SOE) is Artlance's verification system that ensures commissioned writing actually addresses the subject matter specified in the brief. Think of it as a "big fact check" — not evaluating how a writer approaches their subject, but confirming that they've written about the right thing.
When a commissioner requests coverage of a specific exhibition, event, or activation, they need assurance that the resulting piece will engage with that subject. The SOE provides this assurance while preserving the writer's complete creative freedom.
For Writers
The SOE does not evaluate tone, style, voice, opinion, or approach. How you write about a subject — critically, enthusiastically, unconventionally — is entirely your prerogative. The SOE only verifies that you've written about the commissioned subject.
What Passes SOE
- Writing that substantively engages with the commissioned subject
- Harsh criticism or negative reviews (engagement is engagement)
- Selective focus on one aspect of a larger exhibition
- Using the subject as a jumping-off point for broader cultural commentary
- Seemingly unrelated tangents that draw comparisons or contrasts back to the subject
- Unconventional structure or experimental approaches that still address the subject
What Doesn't Pass
- Writing about a different exhibition, event, or subject entirely
- Writing about the same artist but a different show (wrong venue, wrong dates, wrong city)
- Only mentioning the subject in passing — a name drop without substantive engagement
For Commissioners
When you commission coverage through Artlance, the SOE ensures the resulting piece will engage with your specified subject matter. This is not editorial control over the writer's perspective or approach — writers maintain full independence — but a basic verification that the commissioned work addresses what was commissioned.
The SOE does not guarantee positive coverage, specific talking points, or any particular editorial angle. Writers are independent critics whose opinions and approaches belong to them. The SOE only ensures they've engaged with the subject you specified.
How the SOE Works
When a writer submits their work, our system performs an automated review against three criteria:
Is the writing about the specific subject in the brief? Correct exhibition, venue, timeframe, and artists?
Does the writing return to elements of the subject matter on multiple occasions?
Do verifiable facts (artwork titles, dates, venue details) match the press materials? This helps verify the writer is discussing the right subject.
Continuous Improvement
The SOE system improves over time. When human reviewers encounter edge cases — submissions where the automated score doesn't quite match editorial judgment — these cases are logged and analyzed to refine the system.
Writers and editors can also flag specific cases where they believe the SOE assessment was incorrect. This feedback helps calibrate the system for the unique challenges of arts criticism.
If you still have questions about our Standards of Engagement, get in touch with us at editorial@artlance.co