October 11, 2014 - 10:00 AMT
Armenian-born artist designs monument to Wikipedia for Polish city

Authorities in the Polish city of Slubice have decided to set up the world’s first monument to honor the authors of Wikipedia, the Internet encyclopedia which allows anyone to contribute.

“The goal is to highlight the international cooperation and joint work of so many people working selflessly for the good of others to promote culture and knowledge,” a City Hall spokesperson said, according to Latin America Herald Tribune.

The idea of the monument came from Krzysztof Wojciechowski, director of Slubice’s Collegium Polonicum, an institution that fosters cooperation between Polish and German universities.

The monument could become a tourist attraction and also reflects the town’s ideals and aspirations, deputy mayor Piotr Luczynski told media.

It is scheduled to be officially unveiled on Oct 22 in the presence of representatives of Wikipedia. The cost of the project has been estimated at 50,000 zloty (over $12,700).

The monument’s designer is Mihran Hakobjan, a 30-year-old Armenian-born artist who graduated from a Slubice college.

Photo: AP