Call for

ACC-MOWCAP Small Grants Programme

Organisation Name:

Asia Culture Center (ACC), MOWCAP

Application Deadline:

4 May 2025

About Organisation

The Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MOWCAP) was established in 1998 as the regional arm of UNESCO’s global Memory of the World (MOW) Programme. MOWCAP serves as a key platform for promoting the preservation and accessibility of documentary heritage throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The region faces several challenges—economic, climatic, and geographic—that threaten the survival of invaluable historical records. MOWCAP strives to address these issues by supporting memory institutions such as libraries and archives, while also promoting awareness about the importance of preserving documentary heritage.

UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme, initiated in 1992, is an international initiative focused on safeguarding, preserving, and promoting access to documentary heritage. The Programme recognizes and inscribes significant documentary materials in national, regional, and international registers to ensure their longevity and accessibility for future generations. Through MOWCAP, the Asia-Pacific region benefits from collaborative projects, capacity-building efforts, and increased visibility of its diverse documentary collections.

About the Grant

The ACC-MOWCAP Small Grants Programme, a collaborative initiative between the Asia Culture Center (ACC) and MOWCAP, is being re-launched to support preservation and accessibility of documentary heritage in the Asia-Pacific region. Originally introduced in 2018, this grant programme addresses the multiple challenges faced by memory institutions and organizations across the region, including economic and environmental barriers.

The programme has supported diverse types of documentary heritage, such as woodblocks, palm leaf manuscripts, VHS tapes, photographs, and more. Projects supported include preservation efforts, digitization, production of books and documentaries, and development of digital platforms. The aim is to increase public access and awareness regarding the value of documentary heritage.

Grants of up to USD 8,500 are available to eligible applicants. Funded projects must be completed within a six-month timeframe, specifically between May and October 2025. The grant is administered by the National Asian Culture Center, Gwangju, Republic of Korea, with funding provided by the Center itself. Eligible projects should align with themes such as traditional Asian culture, attire, performances, myths, music, and religious practices.

Who can Apply?

The ACC-MOWCAP Small Grants Programme is open to individuals and non-governmental organizations based in the Asia-Pacific region. Applicants must demonstrate a clear commitment to the preservation, digitization, and sharing of documentary heritage and align their project with the themes and objectives outlined by MOWCAP and the Asia Culture Center.

To be considered eligible, applicants must:

Be based in the Asia-Pacific region.
Operate as a non-governmental entity.
Have formal support from their country’s UNESCO National Memory of the World (MoW) Committee or UNESCO National Commission.

Eligible projects must fall within the scope of documentary heritage as defined by UNESCO and may include a variety of formats such as manuscripts, photographs, audiovisual recordings, and religious texts. Project themes must center around traditional Asian culture, including attire, festivals, performances, music, myths, and religions.

Proposals may involve conservation efforts, digitization and cataloguing, development of digital exhibitions, e-publications, storytelling, and even mobile applications. If applicants propose a conservation component, the conservator involved must be a member of a recognized national or international conservation organization. Overall, projects should reflect a strong vision for preserving and enhancing access to Asia’s rich and diverse documentary heritage.

How to Apply?

Interested applicants must complete and submit the online application form by the specified deadline. It is essential to align the project proposal with the listed themes and requirements. Applicants should ensure they have secured support from their country’s UNESCO National MoW Committee or National Commission before applying. Ensure all sections of the form are filled out accurately for the application to be considered valid.

Application Deadline

The last date to submit your completed grant application form is 4 May 2025. Ensure all required documentation and endorsements are included before submission to be eligible for consideration.

Last Date To Apply
All applications must be submitted by 4 May 2025. Late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted, so applicants are encouraged to apply well in advance of the deadline.

Grant Amount
Grants of up to USD 8,500 are available for eligible projects. The grant must be fully utilized, and all project activities must be completed and reported within six months, from May to October 2025.