2025:Program/Living Cultural Heritage in Focus: A Visual Journey Through Wiki Loves Folklore

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Session title: Living Cultural Heritage in Focus: A Visual Journey Through Wiki Loves Folklore

Session type: Poster

Track: Community Engagement

Language: en

This poster session presents a vivid visual journey through the living cultural heritage documented by the global Wiki Loves Folklore campaign. In alignment with the UNESCO 2003 Convention on the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the session highlights traditions still practiced today—rituals, music, dance, storytelling, festivals, and crafts—captured by contributors from across cultures. Through striking imagery and curated visuals, this session honors the vibrant expressions of intangible cultural heritage that continue to evolve and thrive. It invites attendees to witness how Wikimedia platforms serve as powerful tools for the preservation, visibility, and celebration of cultural diversity. The poster also includes QR codes linking to extended resources, reinforcing the session’s contribution to Wikimania@20 themes of Inclusivity, Impact, and Sustainability.

Description

This poster features a global collage of living heritage as captured through the Wiki Loves Folklore campaign. Each image showcases a moment of cultural expression—whether a sacred dance, traditional garment, community celebration, or local craft—illustrating the vitality of intangible cultural practices still passed down today. The session emphasizes the importance of documenting these practices in free knowledge spaces, echoing the goals of the UNESCO 2003 Convention. It reflects how Wikimedia communities, through grassroots participation, play a vital role in safeguarding and amplifying cultural identity. This exhibit not only celebrates diversity but also educates viewers on the enduring power of living traditions in shaping community memory and cultural resilience.

How does your session relate to the event theme, Wikimania@20 – Inclusivity. Impact. Sustainability?

Offers visual representation from underrepresented cultures and regions, with open participation from all linguistic backgrounds. Demonstrates how thousands of images enhance Wikimedia projects, educational content, and GLAM initiatives. Fosters continuous cultural documentation and creates a lasting, reusable archive of heritage visuals for global audiences.

What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?

Everyone can participate in this session

Speakers

• gonsalvestiven

I am a long-time contributor to the Wikimedia movement, beginning with the Marathi Wikipedia, where I’ve served as an administrator, creating content, developing templates, and maintaining project quality. My journey has expanded globally through organizing and coordinating campaigns like Wikipedia Asian Month, Wiki Loves Folklore, and Feminism and Folklore, which celebrate cultural diversity and document intangible heritage.

As lead coordinator of Wiki Loves Folklore, I’ve helped grow the campaign into a vibrant global initiative, engaging thousands of contributors across communities. I also contribute to Wikimedia Commons in areas like image categorization, licensing, and translation tools, and have previously served as a VRT member handling copyright permissions.

My work is driven by a commitment to free knowledge, cultural representation, and building inclusive spaces within the Wikimedia ecosystem.

• joyag

I’m a Ghanaian female editor with over 9 years experience on diverse Wikimedia projects such as Wikipedia, WikiData, Wikicommons and translate wiki platforms amongst others. I have a wealth of experience per my previous role with AFFCOM and Regional Grants Committee. Over the past 5 years, I have been a Co- Lead and Project Manager for Wiki Hour Initiative where our passion is to drive connections between people with disabilities, specifically hearing impaired, empower young girls, and address sustainable topics on Wikimedia eco spaces.

• Joris Quarshie

Joris Darlington Quarshie is a dedicated advocate for open knowledge and cultural preservation, currently serving as an outreach facilitator for the Capacity Exchange Tool and an event coordinator for Wiki Loves Folklore. In his role with the Capacity Exchange Tool, he fosters collaboration and resource-sharing among communities to enhance global capacity-building initiatives. As a coordinator for Wiki Loves Folklore—an international campaign to document cultural heritage on Wikimedia platforms—he organizes events, engages volunteers, and promotes the documentation of traditional practices, festivals, and folklore. Passionate about bridging knowledge gaps, Joris combines strategic outreach with grassroots engagement to empower communities and expand access to diverse cultural narratives.