Wiki Takes Sueca

How did the idea start?

This project is an initiative of Juanjo, a friend who is neither a wikimedian nor a member of Wikimedia , but has heard of us. He knows several people from Sueca and put us in contact with them so that we can organize Wiki Takes activities.

One of the biggest annual events in Sueca (province of ) is the Paella Valenciana International Contest. The first person with whom we contacted was Pep Cortell, a member of the organization of the contest. We met him in March and he explained us how the contest works, the Group of wikimedians at the beginning involvement of the City Council of Sueca of the day and numerous companies and organizations that allows them to have several semifinals in various parts of the world, including the United States of America or Australia. Pep gifted us a copy of the book Sueca: paisatge, cultura i medi ambient, which was very useful for the organization of this activity. He also facilitated contact with Saray Puchades, press officer of the City Council.

Strategic concept

Starting from Pep's comments, the content of the book and consultation of the contest website, we developed a strategy. The first step was to break the activity into two parts: Sueca, as a place, and the Paella International Contest.

Sueca

With 92 square kilometers and nearly thirty thousand inhabitants distributed in several towns, Sueca is not a place you can cover in a single day, so we Location of Sueca in the Ribera Baixa region had to limit the activity. We discarded the large rural areas of marsh, both extending toward the Albufera as to bordering the Júcar River, and we didn´t cover the coast and other villages, only the urban center itself. Within this, we chose many buildings for their interest, as reflected in the mentioned book, in many cases they were not properly monumental buildings, but relevant for any reason. Then we reduced the listings, necessary by the lack of time and based on the presence or absence of images on Wikimedia Commons and accessibility of places.

Paella Valenciana International Contest

The generally extended idea is that almost anything can be added to a paella and that there is no standard rule. That's not accurate. In fact there are accepted procedures, variants formalized in various cases and formulas and ingredients that are considered correct. The contest uses one of these formulas; it is not the only formula, but it is one of the accepted standard.

The rules of the contest specify the Fire, smoke, people... and paella ingredients, fuel, tools and time to cook. The process itself does not mark limitations and each contestant works in that part to get a better result than others. So we wanted to obtain images of the ingredients, process, result and evaluation. It should be noted that many pictures on Commons classified as "paella" come rather in the concept of "rice with things."

Execution Two previous visits to Sueca, apart from events of September 11, were organized. On August 29, a first recognition was made by two members. The purpose of this visit was to determine the distances, locate places and check for logistical needs. It was found that the time required to go from Valencia to Sueca was 35 to 40 minutes, less than expected. The railway station is not very marked, something to keep in mind as the contest takes place in the Passeig de l'Estació. They took the opportunity to photograph some buildings.

On September 10, the eve of the contest, they went Bernat i Baldoví bust, point of to Sueca, this time to access the interior of several meeting of the Wiki Takes buildings without images, in particular the market, the Athenaeum and the town hall. In addition they talked to Saray and Pep about the press passes, which were required to attend the evaluation of paellas. Thanks to the efforts of Saray and Pep we were able to get into the reception of the contestants by the City Council.

Through our initial partner, Juanjo, we could to contact the Sister Pilar, who allowed us access to the Pantheon- Asylum of Baldoví Cardona Family, and we got to photograph parts of its interior that were poorly collected (as the church) or nothing at all (like the Pantheon itself or residential buildings). On September 11 Mausoleum in Sueca. This work by we gathered near the Bernat i Baldoví Buenaventura Ferrando and its author monument on Passeig de l'Estació. We have been greatly benefited from this Wiki Takes chose the place because it is localizable in Google Maps and already had pictures Commons.

From there we started a tour to photograph buildings without photo. The route had been established beforehand. With a length of three kilometers, it could be covered in the planned time (start at 10 and finish at 12). We did not include complex monuments, for example the Casa de la Vila or the church of San Pedro, but simple elements. They are the places that are numbered from 1 to 12 in the plane: 1.- Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Fátima, 2.- Escoles Jardí, 3.- Chalet de Fandos, 4.- Casa de Na Ignàsia Cardona, 5.- Retablo cerámico de San Vicente, 6.- Casa Piera, 7.- Cámara Agraria, 8.- Casa de Ricard Ortí Sisternes, 9.- Edificio del Teatro Serrano, 10.- Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Carmen, 11.- Restos de la muralla carlista y 12.- Passeig de l’Estació. As expected, other elements, some of which have marked with blue circles, were also photographed.

Once we finished this tour, we dedicated ourselves to the contest, beginning with the distribution of ingredients and other preparations, and following its cooking to the collection of paellas for evaluation. Finally, we attended the awards ceremony.

Taking pictures of the process was the most important challenge, being a dynamic environment, with reduced space, in a crowd of people -except evaluation, everything else happens to the view of people, that can surround participants from all sides- and unexpected changes: smoke, flares, sudden movements. In addition there are parts that are not normally appreciate, as the equilibration process of paellas, preparation of ingredients, some quite forgotten, such as snails.

Results A total of eleven people participated in Wiki Takes Sueca. Some of them continue uploading photographs, so the figure is provisional, but on October 10 was 856. So far six photos have been considered quality images. Wikimedia Commons

As noted, this activity has multiplied the images referred to Sueca, the paella, the contest (of which there was none) and other related issues and people. On September 22, 106 new categories had been created on Wikimedia Commons:

19th century wall, Sueca; 19th century wall, Sueca. Carrer del Sequial section; 19th century wall, Sueca. El Borx section; 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; 56th Paella Contest in Sueca. Award ceremony; A l’Instant at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; Abundi Monterde at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; Akiko Sagano; Anokado at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; Arrocería Terra i Mar at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; Ausiàs March 47 at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; Bar Viva Tokio at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; Biblioteca Pública, Sueca; Biblioteca Suecana; Buenaventura Ferrando Castells; Bust of Bernat i Baldoví at Passeig de l'Estació, Sueca; Cambra Agrària, ; Carrer de Cullera, Sueca; Carrer Mare de Deu 5, Sueca; Carrer Mare de Deu 10, Sueca; Carrer València, Sueca; Carrer València 6, Sueca; Carrer València 18-20, Sueca; Casa Abadia, Sueca; Casa de Collantes; Casa de Joan Fuster, Sueca; Casa de la Juanjo, our main partner, explains the activity to the Baldovina (antiga); Casa de la congressman Joan Baldoví Baldovina (nova); Casa de Na Ignàcia Cardona; Casa del Delme, Sueca; Casa Granero at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; Casa La Pepa at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; Casa Pepe Sanchis at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; Casa Piera, Sueca; Cases d’Ignàsia Cardona; Cervecería Taurina at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; Chapel of Saint Joseph, Sueca; Church of Nursing Home in Sueca; Church of Our Lady of Fatima, Sueca; Cinema Lido building; Club de Tenis Cullera at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; Colegio de la Encarnación, Sueca; Compass Group Spain at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; Contestants at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; Cooperativa de Productores de Semillas de Arroz, Sueca; Cooperatives in Sueca; Courtyards at Nursing Home in Sueca; Cross of the Fallen, Sueca; Ditches in Sueca; El Chateo at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; El Tast at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; Ermita de Sant Roc, Sueca; Escoles Carrasquer; Escoles Jardí, Sueca; Escuelas Pías de Albacete; Església del Carme, Sueca; Estación Arrocera de Sueca; Events in Sueca; Fiesta del Arroz, Sueca; Former franciscan convent in Sueca; Francesc Colomer Sánchez; Grave of Antonio Baldoví and Teresa Cardona; Guardia Civil station in Sueca; International Paella Contest in Sueca; Jesús Melero; L’Olleta at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; La Fi de la Fam at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; La Mar Salà at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; La Paella Ibérica at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; La Perleta Valenciana at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; La Taberna del Forn de Carrascosa at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; Libraries in Sueca; Llopis at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; London at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; Main facade of Ateneu Suecà dels Socors; Main staircase at Casa de la Vila de Sueca; Miss Arroces at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; Molí dels Pasiego; Municipal Market, Sueca; Municipal Police station in Sueca; Nano at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; New York Yankees Steakhouse at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; Osteria del Toro at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; Paella for the World Foundation at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; Paellas & Paellos at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; Passeig de l’Estació, Sueca; Police stations in Sueca; Raquel Tamarit i Iranzo; Reception to 56th Paella Contest participants; Ronda d’Espanya, Sueca; Ronda del Borx; Sa Pobla at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; Schools in Sueca; Séquia de Músquiz; Séquia Major, Sueca; Sequial at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; SH Hoteles at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; Simply Spanish Tapas Bar at 56th Paella Contest in Sueca; Slaughterhouse in Sueca; Staircases at Nursing Home in Sueca; Teatre Serrano, Sueca; Unión Cristiana building, Sueca; Vicent Baldoví i Martines; Villa Amparo, Sueca; Water supply manhole covers in Sueca; Xalet de Fandos.

This number of categories is due to the high amount of images uploaded, that need to segment properly, for example by creating categories for participants. In addition, some issues, Jesús Melero, organizer, and Akiko Sagano, such as the work of Buenaventura Japanese consul in Barcelona, during the evaluation process Ferrando, who was present in Commons but without particular attention, have been reinforced. That is the reason of categories whose connection with the activity is not obvious at first, like the Escuelas Pías de Albacete (work by an architect from Sueca).

We also got photographs of the Japanese consul in Barcelona, the congressman Joan Baldoví, the contest organizer Jesus Melero, the mayor of Sueca Raquel Tamarit, contestants and some other local politicians. Wikipedias

Articles in Spanish and Catalan Wikipedia, about the contest, were created, together more than 15,400 bytes. We have also improved other articles like Asilo de ancianos de Sueca (+2920 bytes), Buenaventura Ferrando Castells (+7173 bytes) or Paella (+775 bytes). Wikidata y Wikinews

It was created Un restaurante de Córdoba se alza con el premio a la mejor paella del mundo on Wikinews, along with the category Sueca. More than 4,800 bytes. In Wikidata, we created the Q26846554 item, and added photographs to some others. Unquantifiable results

Any experience shared in person by wikimedians One of the six quality images contributes to the consolidation of the community. In this case it has been a positive experience, with people repeating and asking when it will be next event.

Outwardly, our presence was detected -it was surprising to see people with the bags of Wikimedia Spain- by people who asked us how to organize activities or events like this in Gandía (another city in the ). In addition, our partners in Sueca have already indicated that they would like to repeat with occasion of the International Mime Festival (MIM), another major annual This is not what you expect from a contest of paellas event in the municipality.

Learned lessons

We rechecked the importance that local people have in implementing this kind of events. Although there was no photographers from Sueca, without the information provided locally would not have been properly organize this activity.

It is important to define what is to be done and what will no. The election process is painful but necessary. Finding things beforehand is important. Sometimes the most obvious you cannot find at first sight and during the events there is little time to rectify.

Sometimes we have not successful with the opening times of the monuments we wanted. This point needs to be improved because some things were left without image for that reason.

Gratitude

In addition to the presence of eight photographers and collaborators, Juanjo has been important to promote a Wikimedia event in Sueca. Pep Pep and Saray, partners from Sueca Cortell, Saray Puchades and Sister Pilar, each one in a field, have been very important, as they have allowed us access to places we initially thought out of reach.

The three organizers have had fun with this, which it is important.

All images of this document come from Wikimedia Commons. They are work by 19Tarrestmon65, Carlos Delgado, Dorieo, Montxo Vicente i Sempere, OpenStreet Maps y Sanpilyagcar, CC-BY-SA 4.0