JAKARTA-France and ASEAN today launched Creative ASEAN, a new regional cooperation initiative aimed at strengthening collaboration in the arts, culture and cultural and creative industries across France and the 11 ASEAN Member States.
Launched at the Residence of France in Jakarta, Creative ASEAN will establish a shared regional label and a network of programmes supporting artistic creation, professional development, knowledge exchange and regional collaboration.
Supported by the ASEAN-France Fund as part of the broader ASEAN-France Development Partnership, and implemented under the stewardship of the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Culture and Arts (SOMCA), this initiative contr contributes to advancing the implementation of the ASEAN Creative Economy Sustainability Framework adopted at the 46th ASEAN Summit on 26 May 2025-focusing on cultural cooperation, creative economy development, inclusion, and long-term sustainability.
While France currently supports diverse cultural programmes through its network of Embassies, Instituts français and Alliances françaises across Southeast Asia, Creative ASEAN consolidates these bilateral initiatives under a single regional framework. Creative ASEAN will expand their reach, strengthen collaboration across borders and increase opportunities for artists and creative professionals from ASEAN and France.
“ASEAN has invested significantly in building our cultural identity and a thriving creative ecosystem. Creative ASEAN represents our sustained efforts towards building a strategic partnership that connects ASEAN’s dynamic creative landscape with France’s distinctive artistic excellence and expertise,” said Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN.
“Creative ASEAN reflects our shared ambition to deepen cultural ties between France and ASEAN Members States with a regional ambition. It will create new opportunities for artists, institutions and creative professionals to collaborate, exchange knowledge and develop projects with regional and international impact,” said Fabien Penone, French Ambassador to ASEAN.
At least one new flagship programme in every ASEAN Member State
Each ASEAN Member State will host at least one programme under the Creative ASEAN label, resulting in a minimum of 11 new flagship initiatives across the region. Participating countries will host either: a research-based or creation-oriented artistic residency; or a professional exchange or capacity-building workshop in the cultural and creative industries involving artists, curators, professionals, entrepreneurs, policymakers, cultural managers, and researchers from ASEAN and France.
These activities may take place in one country or across several locations in ASEAN and France, supporting mobility, collaborative research and joint creation. Priority sectors include film and audiovisual production, design and fashion, performing arts and music, gaming and animation, immersive technology, literature, creative entrepreneurship and cultural policy.
Creative industries affirm our identities and breathe new life into our societies. Creative ASEAN brings together the strengths of ASEAN and France: France’s deep intellectual, historical, and artisanal capital and enduring capacity for creativity and innovation, alongside Southeast Asia’s rich histories, distinct yet shared traditions, and growing prosperity. Together, these strengths can drive creative industries that celebrate identity while opening new opportunities for collaboration, innovation and growth,” said Evangeline T. Ong Jimenez-Ducrocq, Philippine Permanent Representative to ASEAN.
Connecting people, ideas and creative ecosystems.
Promoting bilateral, regional and sub-regional cooperation between participants from ASEAN and France, Creative ASEAN will encourage selected programmes including itinerant or multi-location residencies, allowing participants to develop their work across several cultural and professional environments.
For example, an artist may begin a research project in one ASEAN Member State, continue the creative process in another and complete or present the work in France. This model is intended to encourage cross-cultural dialogue, shared creation and longer-term professional relationships.
Across the project cycle, Creative ASEAN is expected to directly benefit approximately 15 to 20 participants in artistic residencies and 25 to 40 participants in professional exchanges and workshops.
The programme will also engage a broader ecosystem of cultural institutions, festivals, galleries, creative hubs, industry associations, investors, policymakers and private-sector partners.
Gender balance, geographical diversity, youth participation and the inclusion of underrepresented communities will be promoted throughout the programme. Environmental sustainability will also be integrated into programme design and delivery.
A regional digital platform
To ensure long-term sustainability, Creative ASEAN will establish a digital resource and networking platform for artists, cultural institutions and creative industry professionals.
The platform is expected to include:
- an interactive regional map;
- directories of cultural and creative organisations;
- calls for applications and programme opportunities;
- interviews and stories from participating artists;
- reports, case studies and sector resources; and
- tools supporting professional connections and collaboration.
The platform will provide greater regional and international visibility for participating programmes and serve as a long-term resource for the cultural and creative communities of ASEAN and France.
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