In these times of economic austerity Galleries, Libraries & Museums have to examine new and imaginative ways to maximise the impact of their collections. Although online collections are a popular, well used and exciting route to engage with their audience, being able to work with the Wikimedia websites would offer Galleries, Libraries & Museums a window on a potential global audience of 375m people worldwide.
At this conference you will hear how some Museums are already leveraging the connection between sharing a part of their own collection with Wikimedia and seeing some amazing benefits – such as a sharp increase in web traffic to their site and an increase in sales of merchandising. Attendees will better understand the crossover of mutual interest that Wikimedians share with curators of cultural heritage.
You will learn about examples of how this form of collaboration has begun with firsthand examples from cultural institution in five European countries and you will be able to explore ways in which the Wikimedia community could work with you in your own local communities.
