Annual Report 2024/Story: Wikipedia Day – theses tested and rejected

Det här är en översatt version av sidan Verksamhetsberättelse 2024/Story: Wikipediadagen – teser testas och förkastas. Översättningen är till 100 % färdig och uppdaterad.

In this story, we focus on how Wikipedia Day 2024 was, for the first time, organized as a standalone event rather than in connection with our Annual General Meeting. The Wikipedia Day, organized in collaboration with two cultural heritage institutions, was a successful and well-attended event.

In 2024, Wikipedia Day was organized as an standalone event for the first time. The decision to separate it from the Annual General Meeting was based on several factors. One key reason was that the AGM often coincides with Stockholm Culture Night, making it difficult to gain visibility and reach a broader audience. Additionally, our surveys and participation figures showed that our initial assumption — that holding Wikipedia Day immediately after the AGM would attract more participants — was incorrect. It turned out to be challenging to communicate about both events simultaneously, and the potential attendees of Wikipedia Day were not necessarily interested in the AGM. At the same time, those interested in the AGM attended regardless.

Questioning this assumption allowed us to test a new format, which we did during Wikipedia Day 2024. A key innovation was that we organized the event in close collaboration with two GLAM institutions. Previously, we had often hosted the event at a GLAM institution, but this was the first time we were not the sole organizers. Instead, Wikipedia Day was held in partnership with the Swedish National Archives and the Army Museum, at the latter's premises. The event focused on how the Wikimedia platforms and digitalization, in a broader sense, can be used to preserve endangered cultural heritage for future generations. This theme also aligned with our project, Heritage Guard Network, which we have done together with the Wikimedia chapters in Poland, Ukraine, and Georgia. During the event, we were also able to announce that we had secured funding for another project focused on endangered cultural heritage in Ukraine, in collaboration with the Swedish National Archives.

The collaboration with the Swedish National Archives and the Army Museum allowed us to leverage their networks – both to promote the event and to develop a rich and engaging program. This contributed to a more well-structured and well-attended event, which was also reflected in the positive feedback from the follow-up survey.

While the Annual General Meeting remains Wikimedia Sverige's most important event, the change meant that we now had another high-profile event during the year. This gives our members more opportunities to engage more deeply in the association's work.

We hope to continue along this path and use Wikipedia Day as a platform to, together with our partners, analyze the societal impact of the Wikimedia platforms from a broader perspective, as well as reach new audiences.