Cultural partnerships

Cultural partnerships
Content partnerships — Digital image restorations — Joint events

An entertainment in Vauxhall Gardens in c.1779 by Thomas Rowlandson. Digitally restored by Wikimedia volunteers.

Cultural partnerships are co-operations between the Wikimedia movement and cultural institutions, such as galleries, libraries, archives and museums, known collectively as GLAMs. There are a wide range of possible projects - from content donations to edit-a-thon events (where Wikipedians and experts work together to improve the projects' coverage of a certain topic), and more.

Why work with Wikimedia?

• Present your collections to new audiences
• Increase worldwide engagement with the cultural heritage held by your institution
• Work with a global community of volunteers to share your content online, on the Wikimedia projects

Who is working with us?

Current cultural institutions we are working with include:

• The British Library
• The British Museum
• Derby Museum and Art Gallery
• The National Maritime Museum
• The National Archives
• Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry
• Natural History Museum and Science Museum
• Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums

Wikimedia UK's work with the GLAM sector complements its work with learned societies.

If you work for or with a museum (or any other type of cultural institution), and are interested in working with Wikimedia UK, please contact our office on +44 (0)20 7065 0990 or daria.cybulskawikimedia.org.uk.

Wikimedians in Residence

Wikimedians in Residence from around the world at GLAMcamp London in 2012

A Wikimedian in Residence a Wikipedia editor who works in an institution to facilitate a close working relationship betweenWikipedia entries related to that institution and its exhibits, archives, and cultural content. A Wikimedian in Residence's underlying task is to build a relationship between the cultural institution and the Wikimedian community through a range of activities, both internal and public-facing. These will include:

• help other Wikimedians to expand and write articles about the institutions's collections or area of expertise
• working with curators and archivists to explain the Wikimedia movement's practices and help them to contribute.

The position is flexible depending on the character of the organisation, its collections and aims, but for guidance you can see our proposed job description here.

Current Wikimedians in Residence

• The British Library cooperation in 2012-13 has centred on the Wikimedian in Residence project. You can find out more about it here.
• Natural History Museum and Science Museum - On our blog.
• Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums - On our blog.
• National Library of Scotland - On our blog
• Black Cultural Archives, in cooperation with Equiano Centre

There are plans for further residencies; if you have any queries please contact the office on 0207 065 0990, or daria.cybulskawikimedia.org.uk

Further reading

• An example of the agreement signed by WMUK and GLAMs when arranging a Wikimedia in Residence post
• A suggested job description for a Wikipedian in Residence