Grants talk:Project/Rapid/terasaface/Art+Feminism/Craftswomen

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Please post any comments on this proposal below. Terasaface (talk) 17:26, 15 January 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Looks exciting! Curious about how to address "reliable sources"/"notability"[edit]

I'm excited to see this effort to bring in expertise in underrepresented subject matter. I'm not familiar with the grants process, so maybe this isn't the right way/place to say this, but I wanted to observe that often subjects go underrepresented because the sources that cover them are not familiar to wikipedia editors. This proposal makes some mention that guild members have access to authoritative source material that may not be available to the general public: it strikes me that it could be of enduring use to Wikipedia, if there was a guide establishing what reliable sourcing might look like in this field. For example, are there contexts in which interviews or personal websites ought to be considered? I have no idea! It also might be helpful for novice editors to have something to refer to, if their sourcing happened to be challenged by an outsider, so they wouldn't have to debate from first principles about what constitutes expertise in the field. Similarly, if there are major awards which ought to be considered as de facto satisfying notability, that could be useful to have noted somewhere. Perhaps this is already in your plans for the zine you discuss making, in which case my comment boils down to "I am excited about and eager to learn from the resource you are making!" Regardless, best of luck with this project! (And please let me know if I've misunderstood the grants discussion etiquette.) -- Oulfis (talk) 05:41, 22 January 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for reaching out @Oulfis:, I am glad you are excited bout this project! The zine is exactly for the purpose you are describing, I want to break down things like notability and reliable sources in a way that is simple for those not yet familiar with Wikipedia and is specific to the groups I am talking to. For example, when I have spoken to the woodworking community about the reliability of source material I chose something humorous and controversial, such as which wood glue is the best. "While Sarah writes on her personal blog that epoxy is the best glue for wood and Titebond Glue claims on their website that that yellow glue is superior, neither of these are reliable and unbiased sources and should not be cited in a Wikipedia article. However, if we find a third-party has published the results of a scientific test on the strength of yellow glue, that we can cite." I aim to give specific examples like this in the zine to demonstrate these Wikipedia guidelines in simple terms. Using this list of notability guidelines for creative professionals, I will outline in the zine more specific examples for craftspeople such as training, awards, major commissions or exhibitions, etc. As craftswomen may not always follow the same professional path as an artist, for example, an apprenticeship as opposed to formal education, this zine will also call for user participation in the definition of notability for folx in the craft fields. As you say, I am not sure if there would be an opportunity that a personal website would be considered reliable and I am interested in hearing from the community about that! Your point about having something to point to if challenged on notability is a good one, I will consider further how to best put the zine and the information it holds onto the Wikimedia platform so that it can best be referenced, challenged, or added to. Thanks again! Terasaface (talk) 20:48, 22 January 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Comments from WMF[edit]

Hello Terasaface, thank you for submitting this detailed grant proposal and for your efforts in making the information on notable craftswomen accessible to wider public. We reviewed your request and have the following questions and comments.

  • In your proposal you mentioned that you would organize a series of workshops with different craft organizations. Have they already confirmed their participation in the events?
  • You have budgeted expenses to place ads in local newspaper but have not budgeted any for social media. Will you advertise on social media without any cost?
  • Thank you for sharing with us your past expertise in organizing Wikimedia events, as well as the list of suggested articles you’re currently working on.

It's also nice to see community discussions happening here! Best regards, DSaroyan (WMF) (talk) 07:29, 23 January 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Hi @DSaroyan (WMF):, thank you for your questions.
  • About half the organizations have confirmed and the rest we are waiting to confirm until we have secured some sort of funding. The American Craft Council has confirmed with editor and librarian Beth Goodrich Bgoodrich29 (talk · contribs). We are thinking that the ACC will act as a parent organization and "sponsor" the training workshops throughout the year leading up to our edit-a-thon in September. The American Association of Woodturners has confirmed with curator and researcher Tib Shaw, the Weavers Guild has confirmed with editor Nassif612 (talk · contribs). The textile center with librarian and editor Nancyellenmambi (talk · contribs) is interested but not yet confirmed. The Furniture Society is very close to confirming and setting dates but needs confirmation of outside funding before being able to pass the conference proposal. I am currently working with the Furniture Society and the University of North Carolina Asheville to find additional funding and support for our proposed event in Asheville but have not yet confirmed that.
  • We had planned on advertising on social media without paying for ads and listing the event on eventbrite and other local event listings for free, but if it makes more sense to pay for Facebook and Instagram ads then I can budget that to come out of the "unforeseen expenses" budget line.
Thank you and let me know if there are any other clarifications I can make! Terasaface (talk) 17:11, 24 January 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Approved[edit]

Hello Terasaface, thank you for your responses. I am approving your grant request! Best regards, DSaroyan (WMF) (talk) 07:27, 28 January 2020 (UTC)[reply]

This is great news, thank you! @DSaroyan (WMF):
Hi again @DSaroyan (WMF):, there has been a slight change to the date of one of our events. The edit-a-thon originally scheduled for September is now being pushed forward to the end of March. We are starting to plan and prep right away and I am finishing up the required paperwork to get these grant funds. I am wondering if there are any problems with this date change? It should not change anything else about the rest of the grant proposal, except I may request the start date for grant funds to be earlier (originally set at March 1st- could I change this and write in on the Grant Information Form for mid-Feb?) Thanks for the guidance! Terasaface (talk) 19:31, 5 February 2020 (UTC)[reply]
It should be noted that keeping the start date of March 1st would not be detrimental to the activities. Terasaface (talk) 19:42, 5 February 2020 (UTC)[reply]
Hello Terasaface, I am approving the change you've requested. Please make the necessary changes on the grant proposal page. --DSaroyan (WMF) (talk) 06:14, 6 February 2020 (UTC)[reply]
@DSaroyan (WMF): Done, thank you! Terasaface (talk) 15:36, 6 February 2020 (UTC)[reply]