The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
Wikimedians in Residence
The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (SAS) was formed in 1780 and has been producing information ever since, including books, journals, excavation reports, lectures (which are now video recorded), and the Scottish Archaeological Research Framework. They have over 2,700 members worldwide, and the history of the Society tells the story of many of Scotland’s Cultural Institutions. In 2019, Wikimedia UK jointly funded a one-year residency at the Society of Antiquaries, with the Resident working one day per week. This project, unlike other residencies, focused almost exclusively on developing an open knowledge policy for the Society. This document looked exhaustively at every element of the Society’s work and how it could engage with the Wikimedia projects, and open knowledge in general.
The project was extended in 2020 to run for another year, focusing on supporting policy implementation across the Society. Despite the limitations imposed by COVID-19, the project is enabling the Society to further embrace their commitment to open data and open access in History and Heritage.
