Grants:Project/Rapid/YEG Art+Feminism edit-a-thon

statusFunded
Art+Feminism 2020/YEG edit-a-thon series
Members from the MacEwan University and University of Alberta community are getting together to organize an Edmonton (YEG) based Art + Feminism edit-a-thon to train new editors and engage existing editors in creating a more equitable and representative Wikipedia.
targeten
start dateFebruary 15, 2020
end dateAugust 15
budget (local currency)1660.54
budget (USD)1,265
grant typeIndividual
non-profit statusno
contact(s)• sarah.severson(_AT_)ualberta.ca• reevesk8@macewan.ca
organization (if applicable)• YEG A+F
Review your report

Please see the sample Editathon/Training application before drafting your application.

Project Goal

edit

Choose one or more of the following goals. You can add or delete goals as needed.

  1. Recruit and train new editors. We plan to spend special attention to reach out to communities that are underrepresented in Wikipedia’s editor makeup (women, people of colour, indigenous people, LGBTQ+ identified). Create a safe space for people to ask questions and get help in an collaborative environment.
  2. Engage and increase skills for existing editors.
  3. Add or improve content on the work of artists and authors that are womexn, people of colour and people from the LGBTQ+ community with an emphasis on local and Canadian perspective.

Project Plan

edit

Activities

edit

Tell us how you'll carry out your project. Be sure to answer the following questions:

1. Are you doing one editathon or training or a series of editathons or trainings?

We are planning one edit-a-thon on March 5th as a part of the Art + Feminism campaign. During the edit-a-thon we will have two 30 -minute training workshops, a curatorial tour of an on-site art exhibition, and a one-hour participatory panel discussion to complete the event.

2. How will you let your community know about the event? Please paste links below to where relevant communities have been notified of your proposal, and to any other relevant community discussions.

We have created a program page on the Wikipedia Art+Feminism dashboard which we will use as our central event planning space.

This event is being organized by members of two of Edmonton’s largest post-secondary institutions, MacEwan University and the University of Alberta. Information on the event will be sent out via contacts at each university via personal invitations and email list services.

We will also be cross-posting the event across social media feeds, of the organizing institutions which includes the Mitchell Art Gallery, MacEwan University’s Fine Arts Program and the University of Alberta Libraries. These include:

Posters will also be printed and posted around both the MacEwan University and University of Alberta campuses, as well as distributed through local arts, gender, and activism organizations. Further promotion will be distributed through MacEwan University’s Office of Marketing and Communications. A press release will also be distributed to local media outlets.

3. Do you have experienced Wikimedia editors to lead the event?

Viola-Ness, Wikimedia Canada Board member and University of Alberta librarian is one of the organizers and will be leading the editing workshops. We also have a number of other volunteers that have editing experience that will be able to help with questions.

4. Do participants have the equipment or skills needed to participate and contribute high quality content? If not, how will you support them?

As this is our first event in Edmonton, Alberta, we will support our new community in various ways. Training sessions will be provided throughout the day, as well as ongoing one-on-one training will be available by experienced Wikipedians for Wikipedia use and by librarians on research methods, editing, and writing. A library subject guide that includes relevant resources, will be complied by MacEwan’s Art Librarian and available online through the event dashboard. Access to MacEwan Libraries’s online databases will be available to all participants, as well as a curated selection of physical research materials. Curatorial and artistic expertise will be available through MacEwan University faculty and staff.

A limited number of laptops will be available for those that need it. Wifi will be provided.

5. How will you engage participants after the event(s)?

The edit-a-thon will be directly followed with a 3-person panel discussion forum where participants will be able to talk more about the themes of the event, including community representation in online space and art & activism. We will engage with participants after the event via social media and an email list, collecting feedback and ideas for future events.

6. Is there anything else you want to tell us about this project?

Our site, the main atrium of Allard Hall home to MacEwan University’s Faculty of Fine Arts & Communications and Mitchell Art Gallery, is fully accessible with all aspects of the event happening in a central main floor location, with accessibility needs considered. This central location is highly visible and easily accessed via public transit. The childcare and panel discussion will take place in a nearby room. Members of our core organizing committee have been involved in organizing and participating in previous Art+Feminism editathons in other cities. We are extremely excited to team up with a new committee in our new homebase to organize YEG Art+Feminism 2020. The whole committee is committed to this becoming an annual event.

Impact

edit

How will you know if the project is successful and you've met your goals? Please include the following targets:

  1. Number of events = 1 (one editathon, which will include 2 training sessions, 2 gallery tours and / or curatorial talks, 1 panel discussion)
  2. Number of participants = 40
  3. Number of new editors = 30
  4. Number of of articles created or improved = 30
  5. Number of repeat participants (for projects that include a series of events) = we anticipate that out of the 40 participants that come to engage with the editathon, at least half of them will participate in more than one aspect of the event

Resources

edit

What resources do you have? Include information on who is organizing the project, what they will do, and if you will receive support from anywhere else (in-kind donations or additional funding).

As the committee represents a partnership between MacEwan University Faculty of Fine Art and Communications’ Fine Arts Program, MacEwan University Library, Mitchell Art Gallery and University of Alberta Library, we bring with us many resources. Specifically, MacEwan University Library will provide laptops, research materials, and access to online databases, as well as guidance on research and writing. University of Alberta Library will provide experienced Wikipedia editors and library resources. Mitchell Art Gallery will provide additional equipment, location set up, and administrative and programming support. MacEwan University Faculty of Fine Art and Communications’ Fine Arts Program will provide facilities and space, additional equipment, and administrative and programming support.

What resources do you need? For your funding request, list bullet points for each expense and include a total amount.

  1. 500$ USD  = Food and drink for the event
  2. 115$ USD (3 x 50$ CND gift cards)  = Gift cards for the panel experts
  3. 75$ USD = Printing costs for promotional buttons and stickers to recognize volunteer contributions. We will design something generic enough that can be used at future events and dedicate any designs to the Commons.
  4. 75$ USD = Printing costs for promotional materials including posters and handouts
  5. 500$ USD = Childcare (6 hrs + materials + insurance for an expected 10 kids and 2 babies)

Total of 1,265$ USD

Endorsements

edit

Community members are encouraged to endorse your project request here!

  • I support this project. The organizers have experience in organizing events and have a solid plan, and have strong university partners. This will be the first official wikimedia event in Edmonton. It is important to develop the activities related to wikimedia in Western Canada, where there are so few right now. I'm sure it will help to launch the Edmonton WikiClub. I have no doubt that this event will be a success. Amqui (talk) 21:19, 19 January 2020 (UTC)
  • I totally support this work! The organizer has the skills to run the event and it will have wide reach. --13ab37 (talk) 13:59, 20 January 2020 (UTC)
  •   Support with one small caveat: "115$ USD (3 x 50$ CND gift cards) = Gift cards for the panel experts" This funding cannot be used for payment for speakers and I'm not sure if this would include gifts/gift cards. Otherwise, endorsed by Art+Feminism --Siankevans (talk) 15:47, 20 January 2020 (UTC)