The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City is hosting a Wikipedia “edit-a-thon” this week with the intent of updating articles related to Asian Pacific American art and artists.
MoMA has been organizing these edit-a-thons -- which are part educational endeavor, part art history class, and part social event -- in conjunction with other groups, including Wiki Media, to bolster articles in areas typically lacking in quality content.
"I think if you look at the topics that we’ve covered in the last several edit-a-thons, we’re really trying to fill gaps of all sorts,” Sara Bodinson, MoMA's Director of Interpretation, Research and Digital Learning told NBC News. "[Wikipedia] refers to it at the 'missing pieces' series."
Past editing sessions have been organized around other underrepresented communities. In June, MoMA hosted a "Wiki Loves Pride" edit-a-thon with a focus on LGBT artists. Last year MoMA held a widely attended Art + Feminism Wikipedia Edit-a-thon to update articles related to art and feminism.
Wikipedia, an encyclopedia written largely by volunteer, amateur editors and writers, has millions of entries but needs constant maintenance in order to stay accurate and current.
The editing session is also part of a larger push organized by The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, which had it’s own session in May, in conjunction with other institutions such as the University of California, San Diego and the Asian American Resource Center in Austin.
The MoMA is currently rounding out the final weeks of a large exhibit by Japanese artist Yoko Ono, although the exhibit isn’t explicitly linked to the edit-a-thon.
While subject matter experts are welcome, the edit-a-thon is open to anyone, even those without experience with Wikipedia itself. Volunteers ideally would be bringing their own laptop computers and chargers, however.
“People actually want to create and make something when they’re [at the MoMA] in response to what they’ve seen," said Bodinson.
The edit-a-thon will be held September 2nd, from 6pm to 8pm. For more information, visit the site.
