The Making of bakehouse.wiki
At WikiBlueprint Consulting, we believe in the power of storytelling and digital visibility, especially for underrepresented communities. One of our most rewarding projects this year has been the Bakehouse Art Complex Wikipedia Training Series, culminating in the creation of bakehouse.wiki, a living digital archive capturing the journey of artists as they learned to engage with Wikipedia.
Funded by The Knight Foundation, this initiative was more than a typical training. It was a transformational process that saw artists shift from being digital skeptics to confident contributors within the Wikipedia ecosystem. As someone who has spent years in the world of Wikimedia consulting, I’ve learned that when people engage with Wikipedia for the first time, they often face an internal battle—wondering if their voice and expertise matter on a platform where the gates are not immediately open.
Our work with the Bakehouse artists was rooted in breaking down those barriers. Through virtual training sessions and an intensive two-day workshop, we focused on three pillars: digital integration, editorial visibility, and a sense of belonging in the Wikipedia community. These pillars became the foundation for not only educating the artists but giving them the tools to tell their own stories and those of their peers.
One of the key challenges we faced was bridging the knowledge gap between the artists’ experiences and the technical standards of Wikipedia. Many came in feeling intimidated or uncertain. Our training helped them realize that their voices were not only valid but essential in making Wikipedia a richer, more diverse resource. By the end of the project, artists who had initially hesitated became strong advocates for Wikipedia's open knowledge movement.
But this project isn’t just about the past; it’s about the future. bakehouse.wiki isn’t just a static record of what was done—it’s a living, breathing platform where the artists’ contributions to Wikipedia are continually recognized and celebrated. While time will tell if they remain active editors, the skills they’ve learned, and the insights they’ve gained, ensure that the digital landscape is forever open to them.
The making of bakehouse.wiki is a story of empowerment. It’s about demystifying Wikipedia, building confidence, and showing artists that they, too, have a place in the world's largest free knowledge base. At the heart of this project lies the belief that open access to knowledge is a shared endeavor—and that everyone, no matter their background, has the potential to contribute to it.
It’s been an honor to work with the Bakehouse Art Complex and to witness the personal growth of the participants. Their journey from being naïve and skeptical to becoming part of the global Wikipedia community is a testament to the power of education, collaboration, and digital storytelling.
If you haven’t yet, I invite you to explore bakehouse.wiki and see how a group of talented artists came together to carve out their place in the digital world.
