Template:WikiPatrika/2012-05/Community News/commons



The Wikimedia Commons, one of the world's largest repositories of free media has been buzzing with activity over the last one year.

In 2011-2012, a lot of media drives and photo hunts were organised all across India. Following the success of Wikipedia takes Chennai, held back in 2009, Wikipedia took several cities this year and it took them by storm.

The first one was Wikipedia takes Kolkata, organised by Jayanta Nath and Biswaroop Ganguly. The event took place on 18th of December, 2011 and had a total of 8 participants. The net result of this event was 435 files were uploaded to the Commons, which can be viewed [wikipedia:commons:Category:Wikipedia_Takes_Kolkata|here]].

This was followed up by Wikipedia takes Ahmedabad, organised by the trio of Noopur Raval, Anirudh Bhati, and Srikeit. It took place on the 3rd of January 2012. A total of 33 people took part in it, resulting in 811 files being uploaded to the Commons. This event also resulted in Noopur and Anirudh discovering new Wikipedians. Shortly afterward, Wikipedia Takes Mumbai II took place. This event, organised by Nikita Belavate, Anshuman, and Karthik Nadar, took place on the 28th of January 2012. 7 people took part in this, and 632 files were uploaded to the Commons.

GLAM
Apart from these events, two GLAM based photo events took place.

The first one, of Lakhota Museum Jamnagar was done single-handedly by Arnava Sonara aka Rangilo Gujarati. Arnav, or Rangilo Gujarati, as he is known on Wikipedia, paid a visit to the Museum, and took photographs of all the exhibits there.

The second one was of the Crafts Museum, New Delhi. Spearheaded by Noopur, this event was a collaboration between the Museum and the Community. This paves way for more such collaborations between Museums and the Community for free media in the Public Domain.

Though not calling it as a GLAM activity, User:Thamizhpparithi Maari uploaded over 350 exhibits from Pudukottai, Krishnagiri,Salem Museums in Tamil Nadu and also created the articles சேலம் அருங்காட்சியகம், கிருட்டிணகிரி அருங்காட்சியகம், புதுக்கோட்டை அருங்காட்சியகம் about the museums in Tamil Wikipedia.