The Burnaby Art Gallery is taking part in a worldwide effort to improve coverage of gender, feminism and the arts on Wikipedia.
The gallery is once again hosting an Art + Feminism Wikipedia Edit-a-thon event. It’s set for Sunday, March 24, noon to 4 p.m. The event includes tutorials for the beginner Wikipedian, ongoing editing support, reference materials and refreshments.
Woman using laptop/Shutterstock
A gallery press release notes that every March since 2014, Art + Feminism Edit-a-thons have taken place across the world at museums, libraries, universities, coffee shops and community centres, helping to improve more than 11,000 articles on Wikipedia. More than 10,000 people have taken part at more than 800 events worldwide.
The idea of the events is to help improve the gender balance in the world’s most popular online research tool. In a 2011 survey, the Wikimedia Foundation found that less than 10 per cent of its contributors identify as women. The edit-a-thons are working to help make an impact on the resulting gender gap by improving coverage of gender, feminism and art-related subjects on Wikipedia.
The Burnaby Art Gallery’s event is being organized by assistant curator Jennifer Cane. People with a background and/or strength in art history and research are encouraged to attend, and people of all gender identities and expressions are invited to participate, particularly transgender and cisgender women.
Art + Feminism Edit-a-thon
When: Sunday, March 24 from noon to 4 p.m.
Where: Burnaby Art Gallery - 6344 Deer Lake Ave., Burnaby
Cost: The event is free, but space is limited. Participants are asked to RSVP to reserve a spot, and those who take part should bring along their own laptop. To RSVP, email gallery@burnaby.ca or call 604-297-4422.
