WASHINGTON 鈥� The will help celebrate Women鈥檚 History Month by adding to that history in a digital way.
The museum will host a March 11, during which volunteer editors will update, enhance and create entries for women visual artists.
Sarah Osborne Bender, director of the Betty Boyd Dettre Library and Research Center at the museum, said it鈥檚 the fourth year the museum will host one of these events, organized by the New York-based group Art + Feminism. She said it fulfills one of the core missions of the museum: 鈥渃reating a space and an opportunity to represent women in the arts that have not been given the time and space that they should have.鈥�
For one thing, Bender said, Wikipedia鈥檚 own survey finds that only 10 percent of its editors are women; for another, 鈥淚t鈥檚 common knowledge that women in the arts have always been underrepresented, when we talk about gallery shows and museum collections, and art-historical writing.鈥�
So the edit-a-thon addresses both of these situations, she said — 鈥渂y training more women to be editors, and 鈥� pointing those women who are interested in art to improve and create more entries about women in the arts.鈥�
Bender emphasized that would-be editors don鈥檛 need any special skills or to have edited Wikipedia pages before 鈥� all they need is a laptop.
The organizers from Art + Feminism identify women artists who don鈥檛 have Wikipedia entries, or sketchy ones, and make lists for hosting organizations to give to volunteers. The museum will provide Wikipedia training, as well as print resources from the library and guidance to reliable online sources to craft entries.
鈥淚t can seem overwhelming at first, but this is the best environment in which to learn,” Bender said.
Wikipedia is an important resource for anyone looking to add to their store of knowledge, Bender said 鈥� for one thing, it鈥檚 鈥渙pen, democratic and available.”
“We鈥檙e not talking about publishing an expensive book, or putting together a museum exhibition that鈥檚 in one place at one time. Wikipedia is a vast, open resource,鈥� she said.
And its influence is big.
鈥淓ven Google pulls basic biographical information from Wikipedia entries. So the better that we can present reliable, factual information on Wikipedia, the better that we can feel people鈥檚 basic informational needs are being met when they go to the internet.鈥�
The first edit-a-thon was held at the Museum of Modern Art, in New York, four years ago. Similar events have been held to boost the profiles of women musicians, writers, architects and more. Art + Feminism has grown since the first event: This month, edit-a-thons are set for across the U.S. and in Canada, Turkey, Israel, Portugal, Chile, Italy, Germany and other countries.
The edit-a-thon begins Saturday, March 11, at the museum, at 1250 New York Ave. NW, in D.C.聽It starts with a welcome and a tutorial on editing at 10 a.m.; the editing runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and lunch is served at noon. It鈥檚 open to the public, but registrations are required. You need a laptop and a photo ID; the museum says extension cords and power strips are also highly recommended.
It鈥檚 not the only way the museum is celebrating the month: It鈥檚 the second year for their social media
The aim is simple: Can you name five women artists? If you can, do it, and use the hashtag. If you can鈥檛, you鈥檝e got a chance to learn.
鈥淪ome people can name five, 10, 20 male artists and can鈥檛 name five women artists,鈥� Bender said. 鈥淎nd also [we can] draw a lot of names out of the woodwork [from] people who are easily able to name five women artists, and get those names online.鈥�
The museum also features gallery talks on Wednesdays at noon and an event with artist Ann Hamilton and artist-activist Emily Pilloton entitled 鈥淗ow Art Makers Change the World鈥� March 29. And admission to the museum on the first Sunday of each month is always free.
