Dear organizers of Wiki Loves Monuments contests,
Again we would like to invite you to help us make our joint effort to
improve documentation of monuments around the world even more successful
and a good experience for everyone involved.
So we would appreciate it if you found the time to fill out the survey
linked below, which should not take more than maybe up to 10 minutes
(also depending on how much you would like to share):
* https://wikimedia.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9uhJYhgmuUw5APA
Thank you for all your efforts and thank you for providing us with some
feedback!
Kind reagrds,
Manfred on behalf of the team of Wiki Loves Monuments International
Hi everyone,
As you probably know, Wiki Loves Monuments started in 2010 in the
Netherlands, 2011 in Europe and 2012 worldwide (I was one of the main
organizers for those years). We managed to get a lot of monuments
photographed that didn't have a photo before. In the Netherlands we also
got a large collection from the local heritage organization (see
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Images_from_the_Rijksdienst_voo…
). After that, we had some sequels in the Netherlands, but attention and
numbers dropped as you can see at
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Images_from_Wiki_Loves_Monument…
.
In my opinion this is because Wiki Loves Monuments is suffering from the
sequel problem: We keep repeating the same concept that worked really
well in the past, but is a bit of a stale copy of what it used to be.
Bit like movies where successful movies keep getting sequels. Of course
this only applies to countries where WLM was done multiple times.
Just like movie franchises that have become a bit stale, we can go back
to our basis and reinvent ourselves. Our basis is at
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Wiki_Loves_Monuments/Philosophy :
* Make it easy
* Make it fun
* Make it local
* Help Wikipedia
* Give quick and visible results
The coverage in the Netherlands is currently 90%. So if you compare it
to the first years: It's not easy to find something to photograph, not
much fun finding it, probably not local (already done), it's hard to
help Wikipedia because it already has a photo and no quick and visible
results.
I made a query at https://w.wiki/AGP5 to give a random sample of
rijksmonumenten (monuments in the Netherlands) that have an image.
Clicking through it I noticed that the majority of images (80%? 90%?) is
of 10 years old. A lot has changed in 10 years: The monuments might have
changed and camera quality improved a lot. So my idea for 2024: Let's
focus on getting new images for monuments that currently have an old
image. This would be like a reset where suddenly you'll have tons of
monuments to photograph nearby. We would need to update some of our
tooling to find monuments to photograph and to get them used, but let's
worry about that later.
What do you think?
Maarten
Hello everyone,
A few weeks ago, we announced the WikiLearn course on how to upload and
edit files on Wikimedia Commons using OpenRefine.
- In English: OpenRefine for Wikimedia Commons: the basics
<https://learn.wiki/courses/course-v1:Wikimedia-Foundation+WMF_GLAM001+2023/…>
- In Spanish / Español*: OpenRefine para Wikimedia Commons: conceptos
básicos
<https://learn.wiki/courses/course-v1:Wikimedia-Foundation+WMF_GLAM001+2024_…>
- In French / Français*: OpenRefine pour Wikimedia Commons : les bases
<https://learn.wiki/courses/course-v1:Wikimedia-Foundation+WMF_GLAM001+2024_…>
We are now happy to announce the translation for Italian!
- In Italian / Italiano: Introduzione all'uso di OpenRefine per
Wikimedia Commons
<https://learn.wiki/courses/course-v1:Wikimedia-Foundation+WMF_GLAM001+2024_…>
This course can be easily translated into other languages (more about
the translation process here
<https://studio.learn.wiki/meta_translations/discover_courses/> and here
<https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tutorial_on_how_to_translate_course…>).
More translations are on the way, including Portuguese, which will be
launched soon.
All the versions of this course are available at any time for free. You
only need a Wikimedia account and the course can be followed at your own
pace, with computer-graded exercises. A certificate is awarded at the end
and an average of 6 to 8 hours is needed to complete the course.
Please, feel free to share these translations with people who speak these
languages and who you think might be interested in learning more
about OpenRefine or Wikimedia Commons.
Thank you so much, Marta Erica Arosio, for your amazing work translating
this course into Italian! 👏👏👏
Best,
Giovanna
* These two courses/languages had problems before and are now fixed and
fully available.
Giovanna Fontenelle (she/her)
Program Officer, Culture and Heritage
Wikimedia Foundation <https://wikimediafoundation.org/>
Hello!
We are happy to announce that there is now a free and publicly accessible
course on the learning platform, WikiLearn, on how to upload and edit files
on Wikimedia Commons using OpenRefine: *OpenRefine for Wikimedia Commons:
the basics*
<https://learn.wiki/courses/course-v1:Wikimedia-Foundation+WMF_GLAM001+2023/…>
.
OpenRefine <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/OpenRefine> is a free
data-wrangling tool that can be used to process, manipulate, and clean
tabular (spreadsheet) data and connect it with knowledge bases, including
Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons.
This online course is available at any time, for free. Anyone with a
Wikimedia account can enroll with the click of a button. It can be followed
at your own pace, with computer-graded exercises. A certificate is awarded
at the end to those who complete the course.
The training is suitable for Wikimedians, Wikimedia affiliate staff, and
partners (e.g. GLAM staff and Wikimedians in Residence). Accomplishing the
course should take an average of 6 to 8 hours.
This course was developed as part of the Wikimedia Foundation's training
and sustainability grant to OpenRefine
<https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:OpenRefine/Training_2023-24>.
It is currently available in English and can be easily translated into
other languages (more about the translation process here
<https://studio.learn.wiki/meta_translations/discover_courses/> and here
<https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tutorial_on_how_to_translate_course…>).
Translations for this course in French, Spanish, and Portuguese are being
worked on and will be available very soon.
Please, feel free to share this course with people you think might be
interested in learning more about OpenRefine or Wikimedia Commons, who are
part of your network, in groups, social media, or any other places.
Thank you!
Best,
Giovanna & Sandra
Giovanna Fontenelle (she/her)
Program Officer, Culture and Heritage
Wikimedia Foundation <https://wikimediafoundation.org/>
Hello everyone,
A few weeks ago, we announced the course on the learning platform,
WikiLearn, on how to upload and edit files on Wikimedia Commons using
OpenRefine: *OpenRefine for Wikimedia Commons: the basics*
<https://learn.wiki/courses/course-v1:Wikimedia-Foundation+WMF_GLAM001+2023/…>
.
Today, we are happy to announce two translations of the course: Spanish and
French!
- OpenRefine para Wikimedia Commons: conceptos básicos
<https://app.learn.wiki/learning/course/course-v1:Wikimedia-Foundation+WMF_G…>
(Spanish
/ Español)
- OpenRefine pour Wikimedia Commons : les bases
<https://app.learn.wiki/learning/course/course-v1:Wikimedia-Foundation+WMF_G…>
(French,
Français)
This course can be easily translated into other languages (more about the
translation process here
<https://studio.learn.wiki/meta_translations/discover_courses/> and here
<https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tutorial_on_how_to_translate_course…>).
More translations, such as Italian, Portuguese, and Basque, are being
worked on.
Just like the English course, the Spanish and French versions are available
at any time, for free. You only need a Wikimedia account and the course can
be followed at your own pace, with computer-graded exercises. A certificate
is awarded at the end and an average of 6 to 8 hours is needed to complete
the course.
Please, feel free to share these translations with people who speak these
languages and who you think might be interested in learning more about
OpenRefine or Wikimedia Commons.
Thanks, Carla Toro and Reda Kherbouche, for their amazing work translating
these courses!
Best,
Giovanna
Giovanna Fontenelle (she/her)
Program Officer, Culture and Heritage
Wikimedia Foundation <https://wikimediafoundation.org/>
Hello everyone,
It is my pleasure to share with you that we will be announcing the winners
of Wiki Loves Monuments 2023 through our social media platforms on Monday,
March 25th, starting 18.00 UTC.
As it is the WLM tradition, the announcement - in a descending order - will
kickstart with the honorable mentions from 25th-16th place, every 30
minutes.
This will be followed by an 8.5 hours break before the commencement of the
top15 on Tuesday, March 26th, at 7.00 UTC in the same time and interval
order. The overall winner of the WLM 2023 competition will be announced at
14:00 UTC.
You can follow the results on any of our social media channels:
- https://www.instagram.com/wikilovesmonuments/
- https://www.facebook.com/WikiLovesMonuments/
- https://twitter.com/wikimonuments
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/wikilovesmonuments/
Best,
Rubén Ojeda - on behalf of the WLM International Team
Hello everyone,
It is my pleasure to share with you that we are announcing the winners of
Wiki Loves Monuments 2023 through our social media platforms on
*Monday, March 25th, starting 18.00 UTC. *
As it is the WLM tradition, the announcement - in a descending order - will
kickstart with the honorable mentions from 25th-16th place, every 30
minutes.
This will be followed by an 8.5 hours break before the commencement of the
top 15 on *Tuesday, March 26th, at 7.00 UTC* in the same time and interval
order. The overall winner of the WLM 2023 competition will be
announced at *14:00
UTC.*
You can follow the results on any of our social media channels:
- https://www.instagram.com/wikilovesmonuments/
- https://www.facebook.com/WikiLovesMonuments/
- https://twitter.com/wikimonuments
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/wikilovesmonuments/
Best,
Ciell - on behalf of the WLM International Team
Hi all,
(with apologies for the delay in sending this announcement)
This email discusses a sensitive topic of armed conflict, and may contain
triggers for some of our community members. While we appreciate your input,
please prioritize your own mental wellbeing and don't feel obligated to
respond or participate. I have tried to frame this as sensitively as
possible, but welcome constructive suggestions on how to do this better
off-list.
Summary: On Sunday 21 January (08:00 PST, 16:00 UTC), the international
team of Wiki Loves Monuments will organize an office hour/community
conversation on: How should an international federated photo competition
like WLM handle national teams, international finalists and communication
in the case of geopolitical armed conflict. We will announce the link
later, and you can register here:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Wiki_Loves_Monuments_2023/Office…
Topic: In the past years, our communities have been confronted with the
question how to deal with a number of geopolitical armed conflicts. This
question came up in the past years in a few different ways: whether photos
of heritage from certain countries should be allowed to be represented or
compete in international competitions like Wiki Loves Monuments, whether
and how photos of heritage in disputed areas can participate (especially
when that dispute becomes an armed conflict) and there are probably more
ways ahead that various armed conflicts can make an international
competition and communication about the competition complex. There is no
question whether human and cultural destruction is desirable, and every war
is likely one too many.
Why now: It is particularly hard to discuss these sensitive topics when
they are current: it is a painful conversation for everyone to have,
especially because the people who are living through the real-life
consequences are given an additional burden of engaging in these
discussions, under the pressure of time.
For this reason I believe it would be helpful to discuss this topic without
focusing on a specific conflict - but rather to discuss principles. How
would we, generally speaking, international competitions such as Wiki Loves
Monuments like to be influenced by armed conflict? Are there guidelines
that they could maintain? At this point, we don't know who the winners of
Wiki Loves Monuments are, and we can still have an abstract conversation. I
don't expect this conversation to conclude right away, but hope that we can
continue it in a few months after the dust of the winning images has
settled.
While this is already very soon, we have settled on Sunday 21 January,
16:00 UTC to avoid getting too close to the announcement of international
winners.
Framing: Some questions that come to mind as useful conversation starters
would include:
* Under what conditions could or should a national team be disqualified
from participating in an international federated activity such as WLM?
* If yes, who should make the decision whether to disqualify, and using
what criteria? Who should they consult?
* Under what conditions could or should the national submissions be
disqualified, if a national competition already has taken place?
* Should the international team make efforts to not appear to support an
armed conflict when communicating about the competition, or even previous
events? What are some guidelines that they could follow?
I would invite others to contribute in framing a constructive conversation
(publicly or privately - when in doubt, just email me privately).
Conversation timeline: We want this to be the start of a constructive
community conversation with national organizers, international organizers
and other community members who feel they can constructively contribute. We
welcome contributions from organizers of other similar international
competitions/activities. The conversation will be in English but if there
is sufficient interest, we can see if we can organize translation resources
in future conversations. You can sign up here:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Wiki_Loves_Monuments_2023/Office…
. Please do sign up, in case we have to share the link privately.
As mentioned, I don't expect this conversation to be "one and done". It's a
first step, and I expect to follow up with a next conversation in a few
months, and again around Wikimania - if there is sufficient interest.
I will guide this conversation as a former WLM international team member
and a current advisor.
Warmly,
Lodewijk