Wikimania bid

Wikimania is Wikimedia's annual conference. It takes place in a different location each year, so far in our summer. In 2010 it was in Gdansk, in 2011 it will be in Haifa and in 2012 in Washington DC. There are currently 9 bids to host Wikimania in 2013.

Typically it involves circa 500 people from all over the world, with about five simultaneous sets of meetings (tracks) a huge amount of logistics more Wifi than any venue has yet successfully provided, a couple of parties, a creche and maybe even a cultural event.

It is entirely possible that the UK could bid to host Wikimania in 2014 or a subsequent year. A bid would require an enthusiastic team of volunteers (it would also require board backing, budget, location and various other details but this is the first hurdle).

2014 bid team

Organisers

Please sign below if you would be interested in working to make a UK bid for Wikimania 2014. Any bid needs an organising committee that will make it happen.

Volunteers

Please sign below if you have specialist skills or knowledge that you are willing to contribute that will help make this happen.

1. Attendee of 2009 and 2010, attending in 2011 happy to convene a couple of sessions in 2014 and to be a sounding board for the bid team as to what worked or didn't work in the Wikimanias I've been to. WereSpielChequers 19:30, 27 July 2011 (UTC)
2. Couldn't attend this year, but will in 2012. Decent experience organising teams & bids (it seems to be all I do any more :() --ErrantX 19:43, 27 July 2011 (UTC)
3. Attended 2010, was involved in the 2010 Oxford bid, have been involved in organising a variety of sized conferences (including currently on the LOC for a 500+ person astronomy meeting). Mike Peel 20:29, 27 July 2011 (UTC)
4. I'm a maybe, would've been "oh yes" had it been a 2013 bid - plans are still up in the air as to which part of the world I'll be residing in as of 2014. Hong Kong is bidding 2013. Will help out if UK wins 2014. I attended W'mania 2010 and 2011. Deryck Chan 03:45, 28 July 2011 (UTC), edited 18:45, 19 August 2011 (UTC)
5. Can I be a maybe as well. Never attended Wikimania, but I have been involved in local organising committees and scientific programme committees for a range of national & international conferences.Rodw 07:46, 28 July 2011 (UTC)
6. Yet to attend a Wikimania, hope to attend 2012 though (despite being an impoverished student). Nonetheless, happy to help with the grunt/prose writing/formatting/IT-related tasks. Jarry1250 14:55, 31 July 2011 (UTC)
7. Attended Wikimania 2011 which I followed from early on. I do also have some experience with contacting organisations and organising things as part of my degree. CT Cooper · talk 22:43, 9 August 2011 (UTC)
8. I don't exactly have any experience with anything like this, but I'd be more than happy to help if I can be of any assistance. I'd love to be involved. HJ Mitchell | Penny for your thoughts? 20:26, 19 August 2011 (UTC)
9. Extensive experience in sales and relationship management with some in medium-to-small events management. I want to be your gal. Panyd 20:54, 19 October 2011 (UTC)

Proposed Venues

This is a list of potential venues which could be used for a UK Wikimania:

• London
• Bristol
• Oxford
• Nottingham
• Manchester
• York
• Cardiff
• Edinburgh
• Belfast
• Glasgow
• Brighton
• Coventry
• Derby
• Exeter – too remote?