Foto.wiki.br/Activities

Foto.wiki.br is a specialized user group focused on enriching the Wikimedia movement with high-quality, diverse, and inclusive audiovisual content. We address the challenges of limited high-quality visual resources on Wikimedia Commons, underrepresentation of specific topics and communities, and the need for greater expertise in audiovisual content creation within the movement. Our programs, approaches, and strategies are built upon three interconnected pillars: Community Empowerment, Content Enrichment, and Strategic Partnerships & Advocacy.

I. Community Empowerment (Programs, Approaches, and Strategies):

• Programs:
  • Multi-level Training Program: A comprehensive program offering a range of workshops and courses, from introductory photography and videography to advanced topics like 3D photogrammetry, storytelling, and inclusive communication. This includes specialized training on Wikimedia Commons and Wikidata.
  • Mentorship Program: Connecting experienced contributors with newcomers, providing guidance, support, and fostering community building.
  • Inclusive Leadership Development: Focused training and support to empower individuals from underrepresented groups to take on leadership roles within the organization and the broader Wikimedia movement.
  • DEI Focused Workshops: Running a series of workshops dedicated to topics across Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), specifically tailored to audiovisual content creation, representation, and community interaction.
• Approaches:
  • Agile and Iterative Methodology: Employing Scrum and Lean principles to ensure flexibility, responsiveness, and continuous improvement in all our activities.
  • Collaborative and Participatory Governance: Utilizing a horizontal organizational structure with distributed leadership and decision-making, empowering all members to contribute to the group's direction.
  • Open and Transparent Communication: Maintaining open communication channels and fostering a culture of transparency in all organizational processes.
  • Focus on Accessibility: Prioritizing the creation of accessible audiovisual content, ensuring usability for people with disabilities.
  • Community Building: We focus on building a strong community, through in-person and online meetups, workshops and events.
• Strategies:
  • Targeted Recruitment: Actively recruit members from underrepresented communities to ensure diversity and inclusivity.
  • Skill-Based Training: Offer targeted training to equip members with the skills needed to create high-quality content and contribute effectively to Wikimedia projects.
  • Continuous Feedback: Solicit and incorporate feedback from the community to improve programs and activities.
  • Sociocracy/Holacracy: Implement these systems to enable a horizontal approach to work, with a high level of individual responsibility.

II. Content Enrichment (Programs, Approaches, and Strategies):

• Programs:
  • Wiki Loves Competitions: Actively participate in and promote Wiki Loves Earth, Wiki Loves Monuments, Wiki Loves Africa, Wiki Loves Folklore, and create new contests focused on specific themes or underrepresented topics.
  • Museum Digitization Project: Digitize collections from natural history museums, focusing on high-quality images, detailed metadata, and integration with Wikidata.
  • Animal Track Cataloguing Project: Document and identify animal tracks, creating a unique visual resource for Wikimedia Commons and Wikidata.
  • Expeditions: Organize photographic and videographic expeditions to document biodiversity, cultural heritage, and underrepresented communities.
  • Festival Documentation: Cover local cultural festivals.
• Approaches:
  • Strategic Content Gap Analysis: Identify and prioritize content gaps on Wikimedia Commons, focusing on areas where audiovisual resources are lacking or underrepresent diverse perspectives.
  • High-Quality Standards: Establish and promote high-quality standards for audiovisual content creation, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and aesthetic appeal.
  • Wikidata Integration: Prioritize the integration of audiovisual content with Wikidata, providing rich metadata and linking visual resources to other knowledge bases.
  • Innovation in Formats: Experiment with and promote innovative audiovisual formats, such as 360° video, VR/AR content, and multimedia storytelling.
  • Proactive Content Creation: Create and run expeditions and other programs to fill gaps in content, not only relying on contests.
• Strategies:
  • Thematic Focus: Concentrate efforts on specific thematic areas (e.g., biodiversity, cultural heritage, social justice) to maximize impact.
  • Geographic Focus: Prioritize documenting underrepresented regions and communities.
  • Long-Term Vision: Develop a long-term content creation strategy, ensuring a sustainable and growing contribution to Wikimedia Commons.
  • Promote Reuse: Develop marketing to promote the use of assets, and a framework to measure it.

III. Strategic Partnerships & Advocacy (Programs, Approaches, and Strategies):

• Programs:
  • GLAM Partnerships: Actively cultivate partnerships with GLAM institutions to digitize and share their audiovisual collections.
  • Advocacy Campaigns: Participate in advocacy campaigns to promote open access, copyright reform, and policies that support free knowledge.
  • Educational Outreach: Develop educational programs and resources to promote the use of Wikimedia Commons in schools and universities.
• Approaches:
  • Collaborative Partnerships: Build strong relationships with organizations that share our values and mission, fostering collaboration and resource sharing.
  • Community Engagement: Engage with local communities in all our activities, ensuring their participation and benefiting from their knowledge.
  • Policy Advocacy: Advocate for policies that support free knowledge and open access.
• Strategies:
  • Targeted Partnerships: Identify and prioritize potential partners based on their alignment with Foto.wiki.br's mission and strategic goals.
  • Clear Communication: Develop clear and compelling communication materials to engage potential partners and funders.
  • Long-Term Relationships: Build long-term relationships with partners, fostering mutual trust and collaboration.
  • Internationalization: Connect with international partners to increase knowledge exchange, and to provide context to the information being created.

Challenges and Mitigation Strategies:

Challenge	Mitigation Strategies
Limited Funding	Diversify funding sources (grants, donations, sponsorships, earned income). Develop strong grant proposals. Implement cost-saving measures.
Volunteer Burnout/Attrition	Implement volunteer recognition programs. Offer support and mentorship. Promote a healthy work-life balance. Distribute workload effectively. Provide clear roles and responsibilities.
Technical Difficulties/Platform Issues	Provide technical support and training. Develop contingency plans for platform outages. Stay informed about platform updates. Explore alternative platforms as needed.
Lack of Participation	Implement targeted outreach and marketing. Offer incentives. Make events and activities accessible. Partner with other organizations. Foster a strong sense of community.
Copyright and Licensing Issues	Provide training on copyright and licensing. Develop clear guidelines for content creators. Establish a process for addressing copyright violations.
Maintaining Quality and Accuracy	Establish clear quality standards for content. Implement peer review processes. Provide training on content creation and curation best practices.
Representing Diverse Perspectives	Actively recruit members from underrepresented communities. Prioritize content creation that addresses gaps in representation. Develop inclusive communication guidelines. Conduct regular DEI audits.
Coordination with WMBR	Maintain open communication with WMBR. Establish clear agreements on areas of collaboration and responsibility. Participate in joint planning and evaluation activities.
Competition for funding and attention	Clearly communicate the unique value proposition of the group. Focus on differentiation through specialized expertise. Develop a compelling narrative and strong brand identity. Diversify funding streams.
Keeping up with technological change	Continuous training of members, and open call for new members with new skills. Partnerships with tech companies. Constant search for free tools.

Foto.wiki.br's multi-faceted strategy, combining community empowerment, targeted content creation, and strong partnerships, directly addresses these challenges. By fostering a skilled and engaged community, prioritizing high-quality and diverse content, and building strong relationships with partners, Foto.wiki.br is well-positioned to contribute significantly to the Wikimedia movement's goals and address the challenges facing the free knowledge ecosystem. Our focus on agile methodologies, continuous improvement, and the 2030 Strategy will help us navigate challenges and capitalize on opportunities.