Wikimedia CEE Hub/Microgrants/Applications 2026/MG-08

statusfunded

Mythological Landscapes: Documenting the Visual History of Central Asia and Turkic Myths

The primary goal of this project is to rescue the "invisible" cultural heritage of Central Asia and bring it into the global digital public domain.

targetWikimedia Commons, Wikipedia, Wikidata

proposed start date1 May

proposed end date30 June

budget (EUR)700 EUR

grant typeindividual

applicant• Miss Kamola

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Basic information

You are applying as

Individual

Your name(s)/Organisation name

Kamola Abduganieva

Your username(s)

Miss Kamola

What is your role in the movement?

Editor

If you are a part of a WM community, please state its name here

Wikimedians of Turkic Languages User Group, CEE Youth Group and Commons Photographers User Group

Have you applied for any Wikimedia Foundation grant or any other grant before?

No

Name of your proposed microgrant project

Mythological Landscapes: Documenting the Visual History of Central Asia and Turkic Myths

Proposed start date of the project

1 May 2026

Proposed end date of the project

30 June 2026

In which CEE country/ies will the project activities be implemented?

Uzbekistan (primary location for field expeditions) and Central Asian region (online research and content creation).

Project information

What is the main goal of your project?

The primary goal of this project is to rescue the "invisible" cultural heritage of Central Asia and bring it into the global digital public domain. While global mythologies are well-represented, the spiritual history of the Bactrian and Khorezmian civilizations, the very cradles of Central Asian culture, remains a "black hole" on Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons. Termez houses the only specialized Archaeological Museum in Central Asia. It contains artifacts dating back 3,000–4,000 years, including unique terracotta figurines of forgotten deities and Hellenistic-Bactrian art. Currently, 0% of these specific mythological exhibits have high-quality, professional documentation on Wikimedia Commons. Ancient Khorezm had its own unique pantheon and "thousand fortresses," but the visual representation of its mythological symbols is currently limited to low-quality tourist photos. We are building a long-term precedent for cooperation between Wikimedia and the specialized museums of Uzbekistan (GLAM).

Describe which activities you plan to implement

The project will be implemented through the following structured activities:
- Educational Workshop & Tashkent Photo-Tour (May & June): A seminar for 30–40 students and professors in Tashkent to train them on documenting Central Asian mythology and using academic sources on Wikipedia.
- A group photo-tour (15–20 volunteers) to the State Museum of History of Uzbekistan to digitize existing mythological artifacts in the capital.
- Specialized Expedition to Khorezm & Termiz (May & June): A 5-day documentation mission by a core team of 2 or 3 experienced Wikimedians.
  - Focus: Termiz (Old Bactrian period) and Khiva (Ancient Khorezm) to photograph rare mythological artifacts (terracotta figurines,caves, wall paintings, wood carvings) that are currently 0% represented on Wikimedia Commons. Termez and Khorezm are not just cities, they are the cradles of Bactrian and Khorezmian civilizations.

Quality: We will rent professional DSLR equipment to ensure "Featured Image" quality for museum-standard documentation.

- "Mythology Month" Writing Marathon (May–June): An online contest on Uzbek Wikipedia to create/improve 50-100+ high-quality articles using the newly captured photos and academic sources.
  - Incentive: Physical prizes (books and Wiki-merchandise) for the top 3 contributors to ensure high-quality content.
- Finalization (Late June): * Uploading 200+ high-resolution images to Commons with proper metadata and English/Uzbek descriptions.
- Integrating images into Wikipedia articles across multiple Central Asia and Turkic-language projects.

Describe your team

The project will be implemented by a diverse team of experienced Wikimedians and volunteers to ensure it is a community-driven initiative.
Project Lead (Me): Responsible for overall coordination, financial reporting, and organizing the field expedition to Khorezm and Termiz.
Core Team (Panpanchik and Kamol Azzam who are experienced Wikimedians): These individuals will participate in the specialized expedition. Their roles include:
- Professional Photographer: Focused on high-quality museum documentation using rented equipment.
- Editor/Researcher: Responsible for sourcing academic literature and verifying facts for the articles during the "Mythology Month."
- Local Volunteers (15-20 people): This group consists of Tashkent-based Wikimedians and university students. They will:
  - Participate in the Tashkent Photo Tour and the educational workshop.
  - Contribute to the online writing marathon (Content Drive).
- External Consultants: We will consult with 1-2 university professors (History/Philology) to ensure the mythological terminology and historical context are academically accurate.

For which Wikimedia projects is the project relevant? For which communities is the project relevant? What is your target group?

The project will contribute directly to the following Wikimedia platforms:
- Uzbek Wikipedia: The primary hub for creating and expanding 100+ high-quality articles on mythology. And step by step we will translate these articles to English and other Central Asian languages.
- Wikimedia Commons: The repository for 150 or 200+ high-resolution, professionally captured images of artifacts from Termez, Khiva, and Tashkent museums.
- Wikidata: We will create and update items for ancient deities, archaeological sites, and specific artifacts, linking them to their newly created articles and images.
First of all, the local community will be the main driving force in content creation and field tours. Since Turkic mythology is a shared heritage, our research and visual data will serve as a vital resource for Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Turkmen, and Azerbaijani Wikimedians. And researchers of Ancient Civilizations (Bactrian, Khorezmian, Kushan) will gain free access to visual documentation that was previously unavailable online.

Do you have any metrics for the proposed grant proposal? If yes, please fill in the number of participants, editors, organisers and content contributions (Wikipedia articles, Wikimedia Commons images, Wikidata items, etc.)

We have set the following target metrics to measure the impact and success of the "Ancient Deities and Heroes" project:
- Participants & Community Engagement:
  - Total Participants: 40–50 people (including workshop attendees, photo-tour volunteers, and online marathon editors).
  - Active Editors: 20+ editors contributing specifically to the "Mythology Month" writing drive.
  - New Editors: At least 10-15 new contributors recruited from the university workshop in Tashkent.
  - Organisers: 3 core team members (Project lead, professional photographer, and research coordinator).
- Content Contributions:
  - Wikipedia Articles: 100+ new or significantly improved articles on Uzbek Wikipedia covering Turkic and Central Asian deities, legends, and archaeological sites.
  - Wikimedia Commons Images: 200-300+ high-quality, professional photographs of artifacts from museums in Termez, Khiva, and Tashkent. We aim for at least 5-10 images to be nominated for "Quality Image" status.
  - Wikidata Items: 70+ Wikidata items created or enriched with new descriptions, references, and links to the newly uploaded images.
  - WikiSource (Optional but impactful): Digitization of 5+ rare academic papers or public domain descriptions related to Khorezmian and Bactrian mythology.
- Outreach & Impact:
  - Museum Partnerships: Establishing formal or informal cooperation with at least 3 major museums (State Museum of History, Termez Archaeological Museum, and Ichan-Kala Museum).
  - Reach: At least 1,000+ views on the newly created mythology articles within the first three months after the project completion.

Financial information

What is the amount that you are requesting for this grant proposal?

700 EUR

Please provide the budget of your grant proposal

Expense type	Expense details	Number of Units	Unit Price	Expense Total
Travel	Round-trip train tickets and local transportation for a core team of 3 members to the specialized expedition sites (Tashkent – Khiva and Tashkent – Termez).	2	€110.00	€220.00
Accomodation	Modest lodging (guest houses/hotels) for 3 people for 4 nights during the regional expedition.	4 days for 2 cities	€140.00	€140.00
Food/drinks	Catering and light refreshments (tea, coffee, water, and snacks) for 30-40 participants and professors during the educational workshop and training session in Tashkent	1	€70.00	€70.00
Venue	Rental fee for a fully equipped seminar room or co-working space in Tashkent for the one-day workshop, including projector and Wi-Fi access (in case free university facilities are unavailable)	1	€50.00	€50.00
Rental services	Rental of a professional DSLR camera and macro lens for 5 days to ensure high-quality documentation of small museum artifacts. To ensure the cultural heritage is documented in high-resolution, which standard smartphones cannot achieve in low-light museum environments	1	€40.00	€40.00
Fees	Museum entry fees and professional photography/filming permits for 20 people (Tashkent) and 3 people (Regional expedition).	For 2 museums for 20-25 people	€70.00	€70.00
Prizes & Awards	Physical prizes for the "Mythology Month" marathon winners (Academic books, national crafts, or Wiki-merchandise).	3	€100.00	€100.00
Other	Other	1	€10.00	€10.00
TOTAL				€700.00

Other

Any additional comments or remarks about your project

I would like to emphasize that this project is not a leisure trip, but a deliberate mission born out of personal observation. Having visited Termez and Khiva briefly in the past, I have witnessed first-hand the staggering gap between their historical significance and their digital presence. These cities are geographically distant from the capital, which often leaves them in the "shadow" of more accessible tourist routes. However, academic research and archaeological discoveries, such as those found in the Termez Archaeological Museum, prove that these areas were the heart of ancient civilizations. Without a dedicated initiative like this CEE Hub Microgrant, we cannot simply wait for professional or volunteer photographers to travel there and upload high-quality content to Wikimedia Commons. The cost of equipment, travel, and the specialized knowledge required to identify mythological artifacts means that this "content gap" will persist for years if not addressed now. We are not just requesting funds; we are requesting the opportunity to act as the bridge between these 4,000-year-old physical treasures and the digital future of the global Wikimedia community.