Call for Proposals – ICH Creative Content Contest 2026 (Malaysia)

Deadline: 09-Sep-26

UNESCO is seeking a qualified Malaysia-based organization to design and implement an Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Creative Content Contest in Kelantan. The initiative will engage young filmmakers and digital content creators in documenting and promoting Kelantan’s living heritage through digital storytelling, with three to five finalists receiving expert mentoring before a public screening and awards ceremony.

About the UNESCO ICH Creative Content Contest

The Intangible Cultural Heritage Creative Content Contest is being introduced in Kelantan, Malaysia, as part of UNESCO’s efforts to encourage young people to document, celebrate, and promote living cultural heritage through digital media. The initiative is being developed through collaboration between UNESCO Jakarta and the International Information and Networking Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region (ICHCAP), Republic of Korea. The Kelantan edition follows successful implementations of similar creative content initiatives in Indonesia and Timor-Leste. The project will use filmmaking, audiovisual production, and digital storytelling to increase awareness and appreciation of Kelantan’s rich intangible cultural heritage. What Is Intangible Cultural Heritage? Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) refers to living cultural practices, knowledge, skills, traditions, and expressions passed from one generation to another. Other forms of living heritage maintained by local communities. The contest will encourage young creators to interpret and communicate this heritage through contemporary digital storytelling while respecting the communities and traditions being documented.

Objectives of the Initiative

The contest aims to:

Increase awareness of Kelantan’s intangible cultural heritage. Encourage young people to engage with living heritage. Promote heritage documentation through audiovisual media. Develop filmmaking and digital storytelling skills. Encourage creative approaches to cultural preservation. Connect young creators with heritage and filmmaking experts. Showcase Kelantan’s cultural traditions to wider audiences. Build appreciation for community-based cultural heritage. What Will the Selected Organization Do? The selected organization will be responsible for the design and implementation of the entire creative content contest.

Key responsibilities will include:

Designing the contest framework. Developing eligibility and application procedures. Conducting public outreach. Recruiting young filmmakers and digital content creators. The organization should clearly explain how its previous projects demonstrate its ability to deliver the proposed contest. Project Team Requirements The organization must propose an appropriately qualified project team. A key requirement is a project leader with at least eight years of relevant experience. The proposed team should collectively have expertise covering areas such as: Project management. Heritage and cultural documentation. Filmmaking. Videography. Digital storytelling. Community engagement. Youth outreach. Communications. Event management. A clear division of responsibilities can help demonstrate that the organization has sufficient capacity to implement all components of the project. How the Contest Will Work The initiative can be understood as a series of connected stages.

Step 1: Contest Design

The selected organization will establish the contest structure, requirements, application process, communication strategy, and selection methodology.

Step 2: Public Outreach

The organization will promote the opportunity among young filmmakers and digital content creators in Kelantan. Outreach should reach diverse potential participants and clearly communicate the connection between creative content and intangible cultural heritage.

Step 3: Application Management

The organization will receive and manage applications according to the agreed contest procedures. This includes administrative coordination and supporting an appropriate selection process.

Step 4: Select Finalists

Three to five finalists will be selected to participate in the next stage of the programme.

Step 5: Provide Expert Mentoring

Finalists will receive technical mentoring from heritage and filmmaking specialists. The mentoring will help them improve their heritage documentation, storytelling, and audiovisual production approaches.

Step 6: Develop Creative Works

Participants will develop their final audiovisual or digital storytelling works based on Kelantan’s intangible cultural heritage.

Step 7: Public Screening and Awards

The completed works will be presented at a public screening and awards ceremony, providing visibility for both the young creators and the heritage documented through their work. Why This Initiative Matters Digital storytelling can help connect younger generations with traditional cultural practices in ways that are accessible to contemporary audiences. The contest combines cultural heritage preservation, youth participation, filmmaking, digital media, and community engagement.

It can help:

Give young people an active role in heritage promotion. Make traditional knowledge more accessible to digital audiences. Encourage respectful documentation of living heritage. Build practical creative skills. Increase visibility of Kelantan’s cultural traditions. Strengthen connections between heritage practitioners and young creators. How to Prepare a Strong Proposal Organizations interested in the opportunity should prepare a proposal that clearly demonstrates their ability to manage both the cultural and creative dimensions of the project.

A strong proposal should include:

Relevant organizational experience – Clearly describe at least three comparable projects delivered during the past five years. Contest methodology – Explain how young creators will be reached, recruited, and selected. Mentoring approach – Describe how heritage and filmmaking experts will support finalists. Commun