Developing an article about an artist on Wikipedia increases awareness about the artist and provides them with credibility. Wikipedia is one of the most popular, free sources of knowledge with millions of users around the world who find it as the primary source of information overall, including arts. However, making a Wikipedia is not as easy as joining and taping down a draft of the page. It thus entails research, strict compliance with some rules and extensive appreciation of the Wikipedia peer review system. Below, we discuss the process of creating a Wikipedia page for an artist while considering the important aspects to note.
1. Make Sure That The Artist Remains Prominent
However, before proceeding to the creation of the Wikipedia page of an artist, the most crucial step is determining the subject’s notability. Rather, it is important to understand that Wikipedia has certain strict rules as to who can have a page. An artist needs to fulfill the requirements of notability as specified by the platform, which translates into the fact that an artist ought to have had extensive coverage from reputable sources that are external to the topic. For example, press features, interviews in the reputable outlets or awards and exhibitions help to prove the subject’s notability.
If the artist has not been discussed by other sources independent of the website, then the website will probably not be approved. Nevertheless, it makes more sense to spend more efforts on establishing more media coverage and exposure prior to creating a page.
Sources That Prove Notability
- National or international art surveys
- Published articles from credible media sources
- Discussions in renowned art magazines
- Emoluments and honors from reputable bodies
- Exhibit in major shows or galleries or museumsx
2. Create a Wikipedia Account
You do not have to log in to edit Wikipedia; however, making a user account has its benefits particularly if you would want to create or build a new article. If you are an editor with an account, then it also helps you establish your reliability progressively. It also helps you monitor your changes, interact with the Wikipedia community, and build new entries.
To create an account:
- Open the Wikipedia website and there, at the top of the page, you will find the link ‘Create account’.
- Type your username, password and your email address in the fields that are marked as mandatory.
- You will need to verify your email in order to do so and thus finalize the registration process.
3. Wikipedia User Guidelines
There are some rules of conduct and some principles that Wikipedia has with regard to creation of new pages. There are certain guidelines that must be followed prior to creating a Wikipedia page for an artist or want to be artist; these guidelines include the following. There are some policies that you should be especially aware of, these are the NPOV and Verifiability policies.
- Neutral Point of View (NPOV): Every page of Wikipedia has a policy of avoiding promotional tone of writing and the given content should not be in any way pre-biased. You should not use any subjective language or make assumptions on the significance of the artist in question.
- Verifiability: Everything that is added to the site must contain a source that is verifiable by the public. For artists, this refers to making references to media reports, exhibits or criticism by reputable media outlets. To this end, this page can be rejected or flagged if it has unverified claims or if it sources from the author’s personal blog or self-hosted website.
However, it is imperative to go through the Conflict of Interest policy on Wikipedia. If you are either an agent of the artist, or a personal friend, it is best to seek an independent Wikipedia editor to prevent possible conflicts of interest.
4. Draft the Wikipedia Page
After establishing the artist’s relevance and familiarizing ourselves with the platform’s rules, it is possible to create the Wikipedia page. New users should try to create their drafts in Wikipedia’s Drafts namespace instead of making straight submissions to the main namespace. This, in turn, enables the page to be reviewed before posting it to the public domain.
Here are key sections to include when drafting a Wikipedia page for an artist:
4.1. Introduction
The first paragraph should include the artist’s complete names, date of birth, nationality, and a short description of the art and/or some of the most famous pieces created by the artist. Do not use any bias in your language and ensure it is just factual.
4.2. Early Life and Education
This section gives information about the early life of the artist, the schools attended and training in arts. If there are any influential individuals in the career, he or she should state them and explain how the individuals influenced them.
4.3. Career
This section should detail out the career of the artist including their plate list. List exhibitions, most important works, projects or partnerships, or important awards they’ve received. Remember, it is vital that you use credible sources that are easily traceable.
4.4. Style and Themes
In this part, it is possible to describe the major aspects of the artist’s style and creative method, as well as defining the major motifs of his work. Use other art critics or reviews to support their work and to showcase the uniqueness of their art.
4.5. Notable Works
This section is the last chance to draw the viewer’s attention to the artist’s most famous works, such as the name of the exhibition or the sale of the artwork.
4.6. Awards and Recognition
In this section, if the artist has received any awards, honors, or grants, this should be indicated with each of the claims supported by a publication or official body.
4.7. External Links and References
The last step is to provide cited links to official websites, galleries or interviews at the end of the article procedure. Do not forget to use proper citation style according to Wikipedia’s referencing format.
5. Submit the Draft for Review
After you are through with your draft and you are sure that it is accurate and neutral and meets the policies of Wikipedia, then you can submit it for review. This process may take several days up to several weeks, depending on the specific details of the page and the load of work of Wikipedia’s reviewing team.
To submit your draft:
- Choose ‘Submit your draft for review’ and you will be directed to the drafting page.
- Your page will then be reviewed by a Wikipedia editor in relation to the policies and guidelines of Wikipedia.
6. Maintain and Update the Page
When creating a Wikipedia page for an artist, people need to remember that after the page has been published there is no end to the process. Wikipedia is an ever-evolving source, which is why constant updates are allowed and should be implemented as the performer grows. Bear in mind to add new exhibitions, awards, or other critical reviews to the page, and all of the new content must be reliable and neutral.
Final Thoughts
All in all, making a Wikipedia for an artist is a noble method of paying tribute to their accomplishments and contributions to the world of art. When using guidelines of the page and properly sourcing, it is possible to create a page that promotes the artist, as well as creativity and art without distorting the neutrality of the page or its adherence to the policies.