Wikimedians of Arusha/Activity Reports 2023-24/Arts & Folklore
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Event Description
Arts & Folklore, organized by the Wikimedians of Arusha, is an initiative dedicated to preserving and promoting African arts and folklore through Wikimedia projects. Held annually, the event focuses on enhancing the representation of African cultural heritage on Wikimedia platforms.
Goals
- Expand Content Coverage:
Increase the representation of African arts and folklore on Wikimedia projects.
- Grow and Engage the Community:
Engage contributors interested in arts and culture.
- Strengthen Capacities:
Provide training for documenting and sharing cultural heritage.
- Address the Gender Gap:
Promote the participation of women in documenting arts and folklore.
- Build Strategic Partnerships:
Collaborate with cultural organizations and institutions.
- Raise Awareness and Promote Inclusiveness:
Highlight the importance of preserving cultural heritage in open knowledge.
Number of Participants
The event attracted participants, including artists, cultural enthusiasts, and Wikimedia volunteers.
Event Outcomes
- Content Creation:
Over 576 new articles on African arts and folklore were created and existing articles were improved. New entries on African cultural topics were added to Wikidata.
- Community Engagement:
The event featured workshops and edit-a-thons, engaging participants in collaborative content creation. New members joined the Wikimedians of Arusha community.
- Capacity Building:
Participants received training on documenting and sharing cultural heritage. Educational resources and tutorials on cultural documentation were developed and distributed.
- Gender Gap Addressing:
Special sessions focused on encouraging women’s participation in documenting arts and folklore, resulting in 50% increase in female contributors. Articles highlighting notable female artists and cultural figures were created and enhanced.
- Strategic Partnerships:
Collaborations with 3 cultural organizations and institutions were established. Joint initiatives with educational institutions integrated cultural heritage documentation into academic programs.
- Awareness and Inclusiveness:
Outreach activities raised awareness about the importance of preserving cultural heritage in open knowledge. Efforts to include marginalized communities resulted in more diverse and inclusive participation.
Event Learnings=
- Cultural Engagement is Vital:
Engaging contributors with a passion for arts and culture enhances content quality.
- Training Enhances Documentation:
Providing training on cultural documentation improves the quality of contributions.
- Inclusivity Requires Deliberate Efforts:
Targeted initiatives are necessary to encourage participation from underrepresented groups.
- Partnerships Enhance Impact:
Collaborating with cultural organisations enhances resource availability and project impact.
- Tracking Progress is Important:
Measuring the number of cultural items documented helps in assessing impact and refining strategies for future events.
Conclusion
Arts & Folklore was a significant success, enriching the representation of African cultural heritage on Wikimedia projects and fostering a vibrant, inclusive community. The event underscored the importance of cultural documentation, training, and inclusivity in achieving our vision of accessible and beneficial open knowledge.