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Poland report

What's up in GLAM-Wiki in Poland

By Kamila Neuman

Digital Culture Forum

On October 24–25, 2024, the second edition of the Digital Culture Forum took place at the Institute of Urban Culture in Gdańsk under the theme “Technology as a Gamechanger for Culture!”. The event explored the role of technology in the cultural sector. Highlights included talks on artificial intelligence in culture, TikTok as a platform for showcasing heritage attractions, and the challenges of managing intellectual property in cultural institutions.

Kamila Neuman, representing Wikimedia Polska, used this opportunity to network and explore new approaches to digital engagement in the cultural and creative sectors. She also participated in a workshop on copyright management, which deepened her understanding of the challenges and needs of cultural institutions in this area.

The Digital Culture Forum 2024 provided a valuable space for exchanging experiences and reflecting on the impact of technology on culture.

GLAM-Wiki Training at the Museum of Photography in Krakow

On October 16, 2024, Kamila Neuman, Open Culture Manager at Wikimedia Polska, conducted an introductory GLAM-Wiki workshop for the Museum of Photography in Krakow (MuFo). The session reviewed MuFo's collections already available on Wikimedia projects, such as Walery Rzewuski's photographs and Tadeusz Rząca's unique autochromes of early 20th-century Krakow.

The training highlighted the potential of sharing MuFo's collections through open knowledge platforms and offered practical tools for measuring the impact of such actions. Additionally, MuFo staff were invited to join the Wikimedia Academy, an interactive course introducing participants to Wikipedia editing, where they can learn to create and improve articles while connecting with the Wikipedia community.

Workshop for the Polish History Museum

On October 19, 2024, Wikimedia Polska conducted a 90-minute online workshop as part of the Polish History Museum's educational project. The initiative aims to popularize Polish history among students and support teachers in humanities education while enhancing participants' digital competencies.

The workshop, led by Kamila Neuman and the Wikimedia Polska team, introduced teachers and students to open culture through Wikimedia projects. Participants explored Wikimedia Commons as a source of free and valuable resources for history lessons and received practical tips for finding and using multimedia materials while adhering to licensing requirements. The session also highlighted GLAM-Wiki partnerships, like those with the Wawel Royal Castle and Polona, which enrich Wikimedia Commons with high-quality cultural content.

Additionally, the workshop showcased the Wiki Loves Monuments photo contest as an educational tool for teaching local history and engaging students in contributing images of monuments missing from Wikimedia projects.

This hands-on session combined theory and interactive exercises, equipping attendees with knowledge and skills to incorporate open culture into their educational practices.

Visit to the Chełmoński Exhibition and Wikimedia Polska as an Exhibition Partner

Kamila Neuman visited the Warsaw edition of the monographic exhibition of Józef Chełmoński, part of an extensive research and exhibition project organized by the National Museums in Warsaw, Poznań, and Krakow. Wikimedia Polska is proud to be a partner of the Krakow edition, which will run from August 8 to November 30, 2025, at the National Museum in Krakow. The collaboration is already highlighted in the exhibition catalog.

Wikimedia Polska is planning initiatives as part of the WikiChełmoński project, in collaboration with the museums hosting the exhibitions. The goal is not only to popularize the artist but also to expand knowledge about the themes and motifs present in his works. Chełmoński's paintings, celebrated for their realistic depictions of rural life, rich portrayals of nature—such as birds and animals—and vivid images of countryside life, offer a unique lens through which to explore Polish culture and natural heritage.

Update on the GLAM-Wiki Collaboration with the National Library

  • Flora Sinensis 1656
    Flora Sinensis 1656
  • Henryk Sienkiewicz
    Henryk Sienkiewicz
  • Zygmunt Krasinski
    Zygmunt Krasinski
  • Adam Mickiewicz
    Adam Mickiewicz
  • Władysław Reymont
    Władysław Reymont
  • Mango - Flora Sinensis
    Mango - Flora Sinensis

In October, Wojtek Szczęsny, the Wikipedian in Residence at the National Library, continued illustrating Wikimedia projects with materials from Polona, adding over 1,300 illustrations, primarily to non-Polish Wikipedia versions, especially the English one. He updated portraits of prominent Polish creators and politicians using high-quality scans from Polona. As a result, biographies of figures like Henryk Sienkiewicz, Józef Ignacy Kraszewski, and Adam Mickiewicz now feature improved illustrations, enhancing their presentation on Wikipedia. Wojtek Szczęsny also uploaded improved scans from the pioneering work Flora Sinensis (1656) by Michał Boym, a Polish 17th-century Jesuit, on the flora of China: Flora Sinensis.

New Wikiresidency at the Czartoryski Library in Krakow

The Czartoryski Library - A Division of the National Museum

In collaboration with the National Museum in Krakow, a new Wikiresidency has begun at the Czartoryski Library. Agata Stadnicka, the Wikipedian in Residence, has developed a plan with the library staff to enhance Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, and Wikidata with unique collections. These include historical documents, illuminated manuscripts, and mementos of notable figures, making them widely accessible for educational and research purposes. Part of an EU-funded project, this initiative modernizes the library while transforming it into a contemporary cultural institution. Despite the library's temporary closure, its valuable collections will remain accessible and relevant to culture and science.


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