Outreach
The Outreach programme participated in public discourse on open knowledge, AI governance, and digital rights, while delivering the Jubilee awareness campaign across multiple channels.
Overview
The first half of the year focused on leveraging the Jubilee year for outreach across audiences. The awareness campaign, developed with an external agency, structured the first half of 2026 around stories to inform and engage, including articles about the impact of AI on Wikimedia projects and releases about specific activities.
We also participated in the public discourse around several key political and social issues. This included signing the Open Heritage Statement — which calls for the removal of barriers to heritage access in the digital environment — and encouraging other Swiss associations and institutions to do the same. We maintained presence at key political and civil society events and are preparing to participate in several UN events in Geneva.
Part of this work will be coordinating presence with the Wikimedia Foundation and Wikimedia Germany to strengthen the Movement’s voice on AI governance and the digital commons.
Key programme activities
© WMCH
Ran the Jubilee awareness campaign across thematic phases, garnering significant media attention. The campaign will shift from awareness to motivation in the second half of the year.
Presented at the ICT4S Policy Day in Bern, engaging scientists on Wikipedia’s potential as a bridge between research findings and public knowledge.
© Kerstin Sonnekalb (WMCH)
Celebrated Wikipedia’s 25th anniversary and the Swiss chapter’s 20th at Wikipedia Day and the General Assembly on 30 May in Bern. The community-focused format, titled “The stage is yours,” engaged around 90 participants.
© www.artic.edu
Signed the Open Heritage Statement championing heritage as a shared, accessible, and reusable digital resource. We also encouraged other Swiss associations and institutions to add their signatures.
© Richard Sekerak (WMCZ)
Attended the 4th General Assembly of Wikimedia Europe in Prague to network and collaborate with other chapters.
Preparing to participate in UN events in Geneva in July, including the Global Dialogue on AI Governance and the WSIS Forum. We are coordinating with the Wikimedia Foundation and Wikimedia Germany on these efforts
Attended the Political Tech Summit in Berlin (booth presence with WMEU and WMDE) and the Winterkongress in Zürich. Both events engaged political actors and civil society partners on open knowledge and AI challenges.
Planned a Wikipedia Bus initiative in Zürich and St. Gallen, with a contribution to the femalITy conference, which connects women in STEM.
Planning a networking event in Lugano as a pre-event for the Italian-speaking itWikiCon.