The “Heritage Award” 2026 Shouyi China (守艺中国) National Intangible Cultural Heritage Costume and Handicraft Design Competition has officially opened its call for entries, with submissions accepted through July 27. The competition is organized by the Colorful China National Arts Committee and supported by television broadcast partners including Hainan Satellite TV, CCTV Video, and Tencent Video. It is positioned as a national-level platform combining exhibition, exchange, and commercial conversion for heritage-inspired design work.
Entries are accepted across four categories. ICH Visual Design covers traditional fine arts, illustration, poster design, packaging, IP design, pattern redesign, and brand visuals. ICH Design and Handcraft covers traditional crafts including weaving, ceramics, lacquerware, carving, embroidery, metal accessories, clothing, and household items — this category is most directly relevant to hanfu and qipao designers working with heritage textile techniques such as kesi, Su embroidery, and Song brocade. ICH Digital Media and Performance covers shadow puppetry, puppet theater, facial makeup design, animation shorts, game concept art, and VR/AR interactive works. ICH Comprehensive Innovation covers installation art, immersive experiences, heritage-plus-technology projects, and heritage-plus-fashion concepts.
Eligible participants include certified ICH inheritors at all levels, craft masters, designers, studios, enterprises, and art-school faculty and students. The competition is particularly notable for bridging the gap between heritage-craft practitioners — who often lack design-market exposure — and contemporary designers seeking authentic traditional material knowledge, creating a structured encounter that benefits both sides. The total prize pool is 20,000 yuan distributed across gold, silver, and bronze awards, with certificates and trophies mailed free of charge. Winning works will be recommended for broadcast on CCTV-15 and provincial television prime-time slots, and featured in a curated ICH design collection publication distributed nationally.
Selected finalists will be invited to Beijing for a public exhibition, including a red-carpet ceremony, personal VCR recording, and visits to landmark cultural sites — Tiananmen Square, the Palace Museum, the National Centre for the Performing Arts, and the Olympic venues — alongside expert critique sessions. The competition also offers institutional honor certificates for guiding teachers and supporting organizations. Submission guidelines specify that digital works must exceed one minute in length (MP4 format with design notes), and series submissions are limited to five pieces assembled as a single vertical composite image. Entry channels include the official WeChat account and direct phone contact with the organizing office. The competition represents a growing institutional effort to create structured pathways from heritage craft knowledge into commercial design application, addressing a persistent gap between preservation and market viability that many ICH practitioners face.