GLAM/Newsletter/June 2024/Contents/Serbia report

This Month in GLAM – Volume XIV, Issue VI, June 2024

Serbia report

News in GLAM Serbia

The first half of 2024 has been a period of significant activity and achievement for Wikimedia Serbia's GLAM activities. Our efforts have been focused on expanding collaborations, enhancing existing partnerships, and actively participating in global campaigns to improve the quality and quantity of free knowledge available. This will provide an overview of the key activities and accomplishments from January to June 2024, highlighting our ongoing commitment to fostering a rich cultural and educational ecosystem.

#1Lib1Ref Campaign

In collaboration with the University Library "Svetozar Marković" and the Wikimedia Community of the Republic of Srpska, Wikimedia Serbia participated in the global #1Lib1Ref campaign. The campaign began on January 15th and ran until February 5th. In January, nearly 12,000 references were added to 3,645 articles on Serbian Wikipedia. In cooperation with the Wikimedia Foundation, a workshop for global #1Lib1Ref campaign coordinators was held. Wikimedia Serbia is one of the global coordinators of this campaign, as well as the coordinator for Central and Eastern Europe. A blog post about the #1Lib1Ref campaign was published on the Diff platform, analyzing the results of the January campaign, future plans, and outcomes from the open meeting with local campaign coordinators.

Collaborations and Partnerships

A lot of efforts were made to establish new collaborations and renew existing ones by contacting cultural institutions and organizing meetings to increase the visibility of Wikimedia projects and Wikimedia Serbia within these institutions.

A memorandum of cooperation was signed with the Little Theatre "Duško Radović" and preparations were made for the Wikipedian in Residence project. The project will start in early May and last for three months, focusing on releasing photos from over 60 years of the Theatre's existence and writing articles. A memorandum of cooperation was also signed with the Organization for Creative Gathering "OKO," working on finding the best model of cooperation.

Ministry of Culture of Republic of Serbia

The Wikipedian in Residence project received support from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia as part of the competition for financing or co-financing projects in the field of protection and digitization of cultural heritage in Serbia for 2024.

Wikipedian in Residence

As part of the Wikipedian in Residence project in collaboration with the Little Theatre "Duško Radović", the first two months have given significant results. A total of 54 articles have been written, 15 articles have been improved, and 12 articles have been illustrated. Additionally, 481 files have been uploaded to Wikimedia Commons, including four monographs. Due to the success and ongoing potential of the project, the project has been extended for an additional month.

The Little Theatre "Duško Radović" is a renowned institution with over 60 years of history, dedicated to producing high-quality theatrical performances for children and young audiences. By digitizing and sharing its rich archives, this project plays a crucial role in preserving and promoting cultural heritage. The release of photographs, monographs, and detailed articles not only increases the visibility of the Theatre's significant contributions but also makes this valuable cultural content accessible to a global audience. This project highlights the importance of digitalization in preserving cultural heritage, ensuring that the Theatre's legacy is maintained for future generations and that its impact is recognized and appreciated worldwide.

Wikidata Competition for International Museum Day

In celebration of International Museum Day, Wikimedia Serbia organized a competition on Wikidata as part of a global initiative to enhance content across Wikimedia projects. The competition ran from May 18th to 26th 2024, aiming to increase the availability and quality of data related to museums worldwide.

During the competition, participants made nearly four thousand edits to 465 items, demonstrating a strong commitment to improving and expanding Wikidata for museums. In addition to these edits, 8 new items were created, further enriching the repository of information available on Wikidata.

This competition not only contributed to the global effort to support museums by making their information more accessible but also engaged the community in a collaborative effort to document and preserve cultural heritage. By improving the data on museums, the initiative helps in promoting cultural institutions and ensuring that valuable information about their collections and history is available to a wider audience.

Summary

The first half of 2024 has been highly productive for Wikimedia Serbia's GLAM. Participation in global campaigns like #1Lib1Ref has improved reference quality on Serbian Wikipedia and fostered international collaboration. Successful partnerships, particularly the Wikipedian in Residence project at the Little Theatre "Duško Radović," have significantly contributed to the preservation and digitalization of cultural heritage. The Wikidata competition for International Museum Day further highlighted our commitment to enriching global knowledge about museums. As we move forward, we remain dedicated to expanding our collaborations and enhancing our GLAM projects to make free knowledge accessible to all.

Gallery

Andersen's cooks - Theater play at the Little Theatre "Duško Radović"
One day at the circus - Theater play at the Little Theatre "Duško Radović"
Melita Bihali - Actress at the Little Theatre "Duško Radović"
The fairy tale about the emperor and the nightingale - Theater play at the Little Theatre "Duško Radović"
Aska and the wolf - Theater play at the Little Theatre "Duško Radović"
New Year's letter- Theater play at the Little Theatre "Duško Radović"