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The definition of 募集【ぼしゅう】 given in an article by NHK News Web Easy is
人や作品などを、大勢の人に呼びかけて集めること.
I don't know what is the role of the に particle in that sentence, is it marking the subject of the action, or is it rethorical? How should it be interpreted?
Santiago, 「大勢の人に呼びかけて」 reads like a clause to me, within the sentence 「人や作品などを集めること.」 ... Although if that were the case I'm not sure why they wouldn't just write it as 「大勢の人に呼びかけて、人や作品などを集めること.」
in any case, I parse this definition as "to gather people or items by calling out to a large group of people"
In general the に{ni} particle has 2 main uses:
駅{えき}にいます。
I am at the station.
田中{たなか}さんは私{わたし}に飴{あめ}をくれました。
Tanaka San gave candy to me.
私{わたし}は田中{たなか}さんに英語{えいご}を教{おし}えました。
I taught English language to Tanaka San.
In the example, に is being used to mark a group of people as the recipient of this action. Perhaps to “shout” at, “call” to or to “rally” (e.g., “rally the troops”).
