Webinar #1: Kick-off for the Creative Competition “Following the Footsteps of Community Heritage”

On the afternoon of July 6, Webinar #1 under the framework of the “Following the Footsteps of Community Heritage” creative competition took place successfully, attracting over 60 participants. The event marked the beginning of a journey connecting creativity with cultural heritage, offering practical insights into the competition while inspiring attendees with stories of successful innovations rooted in tradition.

Webinar #1: Introduction to the heritage-based creative competition “Following the Footsteps of Community Heritage”

Webinar #1 is organized to introduce the “Following the Footsteps of Community Heritage” competition – a cultural product design contest based on heritage, is part of the Heritage Connected – Digital Heritage Collection project initiated by the British Council and coordinated by TUVA Communication. The competition aims to empower communities to actively contribute to and benefit from the preservation of cultural heritage. The initiative is supported by British Council Vietnam, Hanoi Creative Hub Coordination Center, the Center for Research and Promotion of Cultural Heritage Values, Craft Link, COmicola, and media partners including Hanoi Grapevine and Heritage Art Space.

The webinar featured two experienced speakers in the field of cultural product development:

– Mr. Nguyen Khanh Duong, co-founder of Comicola—a comic publishing group whose works have won four International Manga Awards from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His mission is to bring Vietnamese culture closer to the younger generation by incorporating heritage elements and national history into his comic projects.

– Ms. Tran Tuyet Lan, director of Craft Link—a social enterprise dedicated to preserving and promoting traditional handicrafts in Vietnam. She has worked tirelessly with ethnic artisans and craft villages across the country for many years.

Speakers Nguyen Khanh Duong and Tran Tuyet Lan. Photo: Organizing Committee

During the session, the competition organizers provided comprehensive information about the contest’s theme, rules, evaluation criteria, and attractive prizes. Thanks to the enthusiastic presentations from both guest speakers, attendees gained valuable knowledge about designing cultural and creative products inspired by heritage – ranging from a global overview of the cultural product industry to the current landscape of production and consumption in Vietnam. The speakers also offered insightful, experience-based advice tailored for prospective contestants, drawing on real examples of successful products grounded in cultural heritage.

Webinar #1 concluded with a wealth of practical knowledge, inspirational stories, and creative momentum for those passionate about heritage and culture. The event served not only as the opening activity of the “Following the Footsteps of Community Heritage” competition, but also as a call to the community to collectively reconnect with and revitalize heritage through the creative language of today.