Disability Arts Online launches training course for Wikipedia writers to add articles about Deaf and disabled artists

Have you ever wanted to learn how to write and publish a Wikipedia page that’s free from problems and looks professional, moderated and well-researched? Disability Arts Online, in partnership with Wikimedia UK are offering a group of lucky participants the chance to learn from the experts in a series of three ‘editathons’.

As well as learning how to properly research, reference and present a Wikipedia page, participants will have the chance to help us populate Wikipedia with pages about some amazing disabled artists.

Wikipedia is one of the most used and trusted sources of information in the world, but unfortunately it is sorely lacking in information about deaf and disabled artists and the disability arts movement. Disability Arts Online wants to change all that, and needs volunteers to help to do it.

Participants will get feedback on the pages they produce from Wikimedia volunteers and will produce around 2-3 new pages per editathon. As well as being informative, the workshops will be a great networking opportunity to meet other people and pick the brains of some experts both on Wikipedia and the disability arts movement.

The qualities to make a great Wikipedia writer are:

• Research skills
• Writing skills
• The ability to identify useful information very quickly
• Keenness and willingness to give it a go
• Excitement at being part of a writing community

BSL interpreters have been booked for the editathons and Disability Arts Online is encouraging participants to state access requirements clearly when signing up via EventBrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/disability-arts-online-wikimedia-editathons-tickets-19477033331?aff=eandmyevshre&ref=eandmyevshre

 

The workshops will take place at Goldsmith’s University, London on 3 December, 4 February, 3 March 11am-4pm, with an hour for lunch.

The editathons form part of a wider project called Viewfinder, funded by Arts Council England and the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation.