Capturing Iran’s Heritage: Insights from Wiki Loves Monuments 2024

In October and November 2024, Wiki Loves Monuments Iran returned with its annual celebration of cultural heritage, inviting dedicated photographers across Iran to participate. This competition is crucial to the Wikimedia community’s ongoing efforts to document and preserve the world’s diverse cultural sites. By collecting and showcasing photos of important landmarks, the competition contributes to a global archive on Wikimedia Commons, accessible to everyone for education and appreciation.
This year, the competition saw enthusiastic participation, with 206 photographers contributing over 2,700 images. These submissions included well-known sites like Persepolis and Naqsh-e Rostam, alongside lesser-known treasures that highlight Iran’s diverse historical and cultural landscape. A noteworthy aspect of this year’s competition was the participation of 168 first-time entrants, signaling the competition’s success in attracting fresh talent and engaging new contributors in the Wikimedia mission of open knowledge sharing.

This year, the competition was organized by a new team from the Iranian Wikimedians User Group. Organizing an event of this scale presented its own set of challenges. We encountered issues such as limited advertising reach and unexpected logistical obstacles due to time constraints. However, we successfully navigated these challenges with a dedicated team of volunteers and strategic outreach efforts through social media platforms and photography communities. This experience underscored the importance of collaboration, and innovation in achieving our goals within the Wikimedia community.

One fascinating trend that emerged this year was the increase in nighttime photography. These stunning images showcased monuments under the stars, offering viewers a new and magical perspective on these historical sites. Such creative contributions not only enhance the visual diversity on Wikimedia Commons but also align perfectly with our mission to provide rich and varied educational resources for people across the globe.

For the broader Wikimedia community, competitions like Wiki Loves Monuments highlight the power of collective efforts in preserving and sharing our cultural heritage. These competitions extend beyond mere photography; they serve as platforms that connect communities to their history and foster global cultural understanding. They remind us of the critical importance of freely accessible knowledge and encourage each of us to contribute in our unique ways to this shared mission.

Moving Forward

Looking ahead, we are committed to strengthening our engagement with the community. We plan to partner with educational institutions and cultural organizations to reach even more participants. By introducing thematic categories, we hope to explore different architectural styles and lesser-documented sites. Additionally, we aim to offer workshops and training sessions to enhance the skills of participants, thereby improving the quality and scope of submissions.

Reflecting on the achievements of this year’s competition, we warmly invite members of the Wikimedia community to continue supporting and participating in these valuable initiatives. Your involvement is crucial in helping to preserve the world’s cultural heritage and in expanding the reach and impact of freely accessible information.

Announcing this years winners

Conclusion

Our collective journey to document and celebrate cultural landmarks across the globe is far from over. With each competition, we come closer to building a comprehensive repository of the world’s historical heritage. Let’s continue to work together to capture these stories, ensuring they are preserved for future generations. Join us as we pursue our mission to document and honor the cultural narratives that define our shared human experience. We look forward to welcoming more of you to this endeavor, adding depth and diversity to the Wikimedia Commons and enriching our global understanding of human history.

The complete list of this year’s winners and a full report from the WLM Iran 2024 team can be found here.