Hello everyone,
Since 2019, it is possible to add structured data to files on Wikimedia Commons [1] (SDC =
Structured Data on Commons), but adding structured 'depicts' annotations remains a
challenging task, particularly since there is no strong guidance on use of standard
controlled vocabularies. Also such vocabularies can't always meet the needs of highly
diverse media collections and multi-lingual & multi-cultural contexts.
But there are possible pathways to create more structured and user-friendly workflows for
the application of specialist vocabularies, such as Iconclass [2], when it comes to images
of fine art in particular.
Myself (a UX designer & experienced Wikidata / Wikibase user), an art historian and DH
researcher - Dr Karin de Wild, and the developer of the Iconclass Browser - Etienne
Posthumus, have proposed a small new research grant to Wikimedia [3]. Our goal is to
research and prototype several routes to make the addition of standard Iconclass terms as
structured data on Commons, as well as the reuse of these data statements, an easier and
more intuitive task for users of Commons services, GLAM professionals who may have
collections described with Iconclass codes already, or DH researchers who want to run
queries against the Wiki Commons query service and discover interesting data correlations
across works from multiple collections. This is framed as a research endeavor, rather than
just a technical project, because we are aware Iconclass is not a perfect vocabulary, but
working closely with the Iconclass community, and the international communities of
Wikidata / Wiki Commons users, we will research how the vocabulary can better meet the
needs of diverse use-cases, rather than just implementing it without effort to respond to
justified critiques.
If this is something of interest to you, please review our application and consider
leaving some feedback via the form [4]. All feedback is much appreciated and will help us
refine our proposal if we get to Stage II of the process, or help us apply for further
funding opportunities in the future.
Many thanks and kind regards,
Lozana
(User:
Loz.ross<https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Loz.ross>)
[1]
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Structured_data
[2]
https://test.iconclass.org/
[3]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Programs/Wikimedia_Research_Fund/Ima…
[4]
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants_talk:Programs/Wikimedia_Research_Fun…
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Dr. Lozana Rossenova
Researcher @ Open Science Lab, TIB Hannover
Wikibase Community Manager @ NFDI4Culture
ORCID: 0000-0002-5190-1867