GLAM/Newsletter/November 2014/Contents/Belgium report

This Month in GLAM – Volume IV, Issue XI, November 2014

Belgium report

Workshops for collection holders across Europe; Founding event of Wikimedia Belgium; Wiki Loves Monuments in Belgium & Luxembourg; Plantin-Moretus Museum; Edit-a-thon at faculty library in Ghent University; Image donation UGentMemorie; Upcoming activities

Workshops for collection holders across Europe

On 17, 19 and 20 November three workshop were given in Brussels in the office of the Wallonia-Brussels Foundation for collection holders across Europe. These workshops were organized by Europeana, Culture24 and Plurio with on site support by some people from Wikimedia. These workshops explored how each of these themed digitised collections can be utilised to reach out to tourism audiences.

Each of the days focussed on one particular subject:

Art Nouveau collections on 17 November
Battle of Waterloo-related collections on 19 November
First World War collections on 20 November

The workshops gave examples of re-use and mapped the needed route for organisations to open up their collections to make re-use possible. Various cultural institutions from across Europe were present to learn more about how to do it.

Invitation
Photos: 17 November, 19 November, 20 November

Founding event of Wikimedia Belgium

On 19 November 2014 the founding event of Wikimedia Belgium was organized in the drawing rooms of the president of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives. We were welcomed by the president, Siegfried Bracke (fr/nl), who gave a speech about the importance of Wikipedia and how he uses it. After him followed the president of our chapter, the vice-president and the in Belgium well-known Michiel Hendryckx (fr/nl). After the talks, the president of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives invitated us for a toast and to have a talk with each other.

Buildin of the Belgian Federal Parliament
Entrance
To the founding event
The public
with press
Siegfried Bracke, president of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives giving his speech
Siegfried Bracke during his speach
President of Wikimedia Belgium
Vice president of Wikimedia Belgium
Michiel Hendryckx gives his speech
President of WMBE receives a present
Prsident WMBE receives present from the Open Knowledge Foundation

Wiki Loves Monuments in Belgium & Luxembourg

For the fourth time Wiki Loves Monuments has been organized in Belgium and Luxembourg from 1 September to 30 September. During this month we organized also a Wiki Takes... Leuven to improve the coverage of the monuments of this city. In the contest 153 users participated with in total 2568 photos. In October the jury selected the 10 best photos:

1. The main building at the Hasard Cheratte coal mine in Liège
Author: Msemmett
2. Law Courts of Brussels
Author: Alfredcar03
3. Belfry of Bruges
Author: Pedro J Pacheco
4. Saint Nicholas Church in Ghent
Author: Teseum
5. Castle Ooidonk in Deinze
Author: Francisco Conde Sánchez
6. Chapelle Notre-Dame de Chèvremont
Author: Jean Maréchal
7. Castle Horst in Sint Pieters Rode
Author: Francisco Conde Sánchez
8. Citadelle de Dinant
Author: Mjjmartinlux
9. Grand Place of Brussels
Author: Francisco Conde Sánchez
10. Castle Alden Biesen in Rijkhoven
Author: Francisco Conde Sánchez

Besides the uploaders of these winning photos, a special thanks (and prize) was for five participants for their large contributions to our photo contest. On 26 November we organized a prize giving ceremony for the winners, which was hosted in the conference room of the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage in Brussels, next to the Parc du Cinquantenaire. Afterwards our host provided something to drink and snack, and space to chat.

Organizing Wiki Loves Monuments wasn't possible without the support from our sponsors and partners. Our partners and sponsors: Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage, Agentschap Onroerend Erfgoed (VIOE) (Flanders Heritage Agency), Brussels Capital Region, Creative Commons Belgium and the Wikimedia Foundation.

The venue before
A speech by the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage
The jury explaining why which photo has been selected
The drink and talk afterwards

Plantin-Moretus Museum

On 27 November two members of the Wikimedia community and someone from Packed, expertise centre for digital heritage, had a meeting with the historic Plantin-Moretus Museum about working together with Wikimedia/Wikipedia.

Edit-a-thon at faculty library in Ghent University

On 28 November an edit-a-thon was organized at the faculty library of literature and philosophy (Faculteitsbibliotheek Letteren & Wijsbegeerte) at Ghent University. The participants worked on the extension and improvement of about 30 articles related to the history of the university.

Lunch was provided by the library and we also had a guided tour through the faculty library.

A helping hand by an experienced user
Working on articles
Lunch
Lunch
Tour through the library

Image donation UGentMemorie

On 29 November the team of UGentMemorie donated 125 photos to Wikimedia Commons. UGentMemorie is a non-profit project of Ghent University researchers and students, about the history of Ghent University.