Art Wikimarathon

Hi everyone,

Here's an interesting event that is being publicized on Facebook and elsewhere on the internet. It's called the "Art Wikimarathon." Here's how the organizers describe the virtual event:

"There's a lack of art/artist info on Wikipedia, and we're often too busy to find the time to contribute. So, we're setting aside one day where a crew of people collectively drop serious knowledge into wikipedia about art. From your favorite notable artwork, artist or exhibition, to our soon-to-be-famous peers. We'll also add structural links to alumni schools and categories like collective art groups, non profit orgs, etc. . . . The day is Saturday January 26th: an afternoon on the internet quietly enriching the public domain. We imagine groups of 2-4 people around tables across the country, bottomless coffee cups fueling the discussions, fact checking, and troubleshooting." (Link: http://thegreatinter.net/wikimarathon)

Whether or not you participate, the idea is interesting because it challenges the notion that successful social media projects all work without traditional forms of organization: scheduled events, organizers, specific goals and outcomes. Perhaps we should be thinking more about ways combine the appeal of the fortuitous, unstructured nature of some internet applications with more traditional ways to organize people and activities.

What do you think?
Best,
Susan