Grants talk:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Rapid Fund/Wiki Loves Museums (ID: 21862170)

Suggestions and feedback from the South Asia Grants Regional Committee

@Medhavigandhi: South Asia GRC has gone through the proposal and would like to understand a few aspects of the proposal in detail. The committee also has suggestions on a few activities that can be considered for an impactful project.

• In a few museums permission for photos or videos are restricted. What plans does the organising committee have to overcome this challenge? Can the steps taken to overcome these challenges be shared with the larger movement so that it can become useful learning?

• Have you shortlisted some important museums for this activity?What have been the factors for these museums to be selected?

• Capturing images of sculptures is a unique idea. There are museums such as like cycle museum, railway museum which also display unique collections. Is the organising team interested in exploring/collaborating with these museums as well?

• Is it possible to add any enthusiastic person from any wiki community for your help? It will be a learning opportunity for him or her also.

• You have mentioned that ‘School teachers and students will get special prizes’. We would suggest that the amount may be split and offer one prize for student and one for teacher.It may encourage both teachers and students.

• We recommend that standard guidance (manual/pamphlet) should be made available to all participants regarding tips for capturing good images. Conditions in museums and art galleries are not always conducive towards capturing images and hence having a standard guideline will be helpful. This guideline document can be also shared with Wikimedia community as an output of the project.

• Referring to ‘...This project will partner with 10 independent Cultural Heritage Expert-Networks to develop thematic knowledge walks at museums and extend participation; we will also be partnering with museums…’ Would you be able to mention the names of at least two experts/partners that will be associated with the project?

• Will there be a certificate for participation?This can be a major way of encouragement for all the participants.

Looking forward to your responses and further engagement on this proposal

On behalf of the South Asia GRC THasan (WMF) (talk) 14:09, 13 June 2022 (UTC)

Dear @THasan (WMF) and the Grants Committee,

Thank you for your kind consideration, suggestions and review of our proposal. Our responses are below:

In a few museums permission for photos or videos are restricted. What plans does the organising committee have to overcome this challenge? Can the steps taken to overcome these challenges be shared with the larger movement so that it can become useful learning?

For many museums in India, image-licensing forms part of their revenue. In the absence of a cultural policy that outlines public-domain image use, we hope to raise awareness about the value of publicly-available material. At this point, we hope to target museums that allow photography so it can be an easier transition for them to consider adding collections to the Commons with appropriate licenses later. It is our hope that museums which do not allow photography will take cue / follow suit in time. That said, we are not completely ruling out the possibility of reaching out to these museums.

Since our announcement will coincide with Independence Day, as well as World Photography day, we see this as an opportunity / incentive for no-photo-policy museums to participate; if we are successful, we’ll definitely share our process for the benefit of the larger movement.

Have you shortlisted some important museums for this activity?What have been the factors for these museums to be selected?

Yes, we have shortlisted some museums that have been our partners in the past and have been enthusiastic about public engagement activities; have previously expressed interest in hosting Art+Feminism editathons or are under-represented.

Many of the museums that we are shortlisting for the thematic, curatorial walks are those that are main State / City museums; another criteria is to see which museums have great collections, but not a great footfall.

We feel this campaign could encourage the larger public to visit museums.

Museums include: CSMVS Mumbai, National Museum New Delhi, L.D Museum Ahmedabad, Govt. Museum Chennai, etc.

Capturing images of sculptures is a unique idea. There are museums such as like cycle museum, railway museum which also display unique collections. Is the organising team interested in exploring/collaborating with these museums as well?

Yes, we will be reaching out to special-collections museums too, so it will not be only about art. These include currency museums and Natural History as well.

Is it possible to add any enthusiastic person from any wiki community for your help? It will be a learning opportunity for him or her also.

Absolutely! We’d be thrilled to have someone, especially during the Fellowship as that part focuses on building on the resources that have been collected.

You have mentioned that ‘School teachers and students will get special prizes’. We would suggest that the amount may be split and offer one prize for student and one for teacher.It may encourage both teachers and students.

I am unable to trace this part in the application — the contest is open to everyone & the results of it would be especially be important for educators and their classrooms. Through our school & university partners, we will of course promote the campaign.

We recommend that standard guidance (manual/pamphlet) should be made available to all participants regarding tips for capturing good images. Conditions in museums and art galleries are not always conducive towards capturing images and hence having a standard guideline will be helpful. This guideline document can be also shared with Wikimedia community as an output of the project.

This is an excellent suggestion; while we had considered sharing examples of good photos and ‘not so good’ photos, your suggestion inspires us to create a short document that would be helpful for everyone.

Referring to ‘...This project will partner with 10 independent Cultural Heritage Expert-Networks to develop thematic knowledge walks at museums and extend participation; we will also be partnering with museums…’ Would you be able to mention the names of at least two experts/partners that will be associated with the project?

Yes, we have already named Alisha Sadikot of ArtWalks Mumbai who has newly joined the Wiki community as well; we also will work with Yunus of The Hyderabad History Project, and others such as Namrata Sarmah in Assam who is an independent cultural professional; Swapna Liddle in Delhi, etc. Many of them are already part of our network, but we hope to share an announcement in the last week of June soliciting interest in partnering.

Will there be a certificate for participation?This can be a major way of encouragement for all the participants.

Again, what an excellent idea, we’d love to give out digital certificates for participation.

I appreciate your suggestions in making the project stronger. Let us hope to achieve all that we've set out to - and look forward to your continued support. Medhavigandhi (talk) 07:27, 14 June 2022 (UTC)

Funding recommendation

@Medhavigandhi: We are happy to note that the answers are satisfactory and we believe that this project will lead towards the emergence of new ideas regarding interacting with museums and processes that can facilitate creation of open knowledge. South Asia GRC recommends full funding for this project. We look forward to reviewing the reports as well as new learnings from this project. It is also noted that@Medhavigandhi:is a member of the South Asia GRC and has not been part of the decision making of this funding application. On behalf of the South Asia GRCTHasan (WMF) (talk) 07:14, 17 June 2022 (UTC)