Shared Paths: Kakilang X Chinatown Collective CO-COMMISSION AWARD
Open Call
Photo credit: Jieying Shao
Time is a relentless forward march, transforming yesterday into today and today into tomorrow. How do we, individually and collectively, engage with the past? For many within ESEA communities, our history can feel like a hidden needle on a pavement—both undeniably present and challenging to discern. Will we choose to acknowledge it? What new discoveries await us? Can we intertwine these narratives to form a unique and meaningful pattern?
2025 marks the 40th anniversary of the official designation of London’s Chinatown by Westminster City Council, an area with which Kakilang has a profound connection and which remains a distinct focus for Chinatown Collective.At this significant juncture, we are committed to fostering a platform for fresh interpretations and understandings of our shared history.
With the generous support of the Westminster City Council Ward Budget Programme, Kakilang is thrilled to announce a new co-commission opportunity with Chinatown Collective. This co-commision will culminate in a Chinatown artist tour, which will be part of our 2026 season.
Open Call Brief
We invite East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) creatives to conceptualize and develop an inspiring and original artist tour for London Chinatown. This commission offers the flexibility to develop a brand-new idea or to further an existing concept.
This collaboration between Kakilang and Chinatown Collective will be a key component of Kakilang’s 2026 season. It will delve into Chinatown’s diverse histories and communities, rich cultural imagination through innovative perspectives. We are particularly interested in proposals that:
● Reflect a broad range of experiences in critical and nuanced ways.
● Address the structural and intersectional inequalities and challenge the existing stereotypes associated with Chinatown.
● Move beyond tokenistic or oversimplified “celebratory” depictions of diversity.
● Invite audiences to engage with the area in novel and unexpected ways.
While this is a co-commission between Kakilang and Chinatown Collective, the successful recipient will be expected to lead the project.
Supports
The commission includes a fee of £2,500, alongside comprehensive producing, researching, and marketing support:
● Creative Input: Guidance and expertise from the Kakilang Artistic Team and Chinatown Collective Team during the tour’s development.
● Research Resources: Access to research materials from Chinatown Collective.
● Collaborative Realisation: Close collaboration with the Kakilang and Chinatown Collective Teams to bring the work to fruition.
● Promotional Support: Dedicated assistance from the Kakilang Marketing Manager to promote the work effectively.
● Documentation: The final work will be documented by Kakilang and Chinatown Collective (through images and/or video, as agreed with the recipient), and shared with the commission recipient.
Application Details
To apply, please submit:
● Proposal: A document of no more than one A4 page outlining your proposal. This should include your rationale, idea, a brief history of your practice, and your plan for project delivery.
● Portfolio Links: Links showcasing your previous work (e.g., video documentation, website, images). Video links should be under 5 minutes in duration.
● Please contact us if you have access needs.
Key Dates
● Application Open: 30th September 2025
● Application Deadline: 29th October 2025
● Expected Project Delivery Time: March 2026
Please submit your application here.
Further Information
For any queries related to the application process, please email: joey@kakilang.org.uk
About Chinatown Collective
The Chinatown Collective is a volunteer-led community interest company (CIC). Chinatown Collective is dedicated to heritage-making activities connected to London’s Chinatown, supporting a vibrant volunteer group focused on heritage-centred community building, and using heritage-focused activities to further social justice. Through community building, co-design principles, and inclusive practices, Chinatown Collective organises educational and cultural programmes, including Chinatown Stories walking tours, oral history gathering, community-building workshops. The organisation’s activities include working with Chinatown’s different communities: the workforce, business owners, tourists, visitors, volunteers, social and civic services and the many regular contributors and collaborators in the area.
