2025 Gyantse Tibetan Rug International Design Competition Launches: Weaving Tradition, Innovation, and Sustainability
Initiated by Beijing Contemporary Art Foundation (BCAF) in Collaboration with Gyantse County, Tibet, China
At over 4,000 meters above sea level, in the heart of Tibet’s “Hometown of Tibetan Rugs,” the ancient Gyantse Tibetan rug — a millennium-old national treasure — is experiencing a contemporary revival. Through the fusion of age-old craftsmanship and innovations such as 3D weaving technology, traditional auspicious motifs are reimagined into bold modern geometries. Now, this unique heritage is stepping onto the global stage, inviting the world’s creative talents to join its journey.
On August 3, 2025, the 2025 Gyantse Tibetan Rug International Design Competition officially launched. Organized by the Gyantse Tibetan Rug Association, and co-organized by the Beijing Contemporary Art Foundation (BCAF), Tibet Arts and Crafts Association, Shorabha Tibetan Rugs, and Xiaohongshu (Rednote), the competition calls on designers, artists, and creatives worldwide to reinterpret Tibetan rugs for a new era — blending creativity, cultural heritage, and sustainable design.
A Core Project of the Gyantse Tibetan Rug 2025–2027 Revival Plan
Under the theme “A Meeting of Minds, Weaving the Future Together,” the competition invites original Tibetan rug pattern designs that reflect both the rich cultural heritage of Gyantse and forward-looking design sensibilities.
Awards & Opportunities:
· Best Creative Award – RMB 70,000
· Best Female Designer Award – RMB 70,000
· Best Public Choice Award – RMB 70,000
· Outstanding Work Awards (3 winners) – RMB 20,000 each
Winning works will:
· Be produced in collaboration with local artisans.
· Receive global media exposure through dedicated short films and cross-platform promotion.
· Be showcased at Milan Design Week and Beijing International Design Week.
· Join the permanent collection of Gyantse County.
Entry Requirements & Timeline
Designs must be original, culturally informed, and suitable for Tibetan rug craftsmanship. Judging criteria include:
1. Aesthetic value
2. Innovation
3. Detail and execution
4. Alignment with project goals
5. Cultural and social impact
Submission period: August 3 – October 2, 2025
Judging period: October 3 – October 18, 2025
Winners announced: November 1, 2025
Entries are accepted via the official mini-program (scan QR code for details).
Prestigious Jury
The judging panel features leading figures in arts and crafts, cultural research, and design innovation, including:
· Nyima Tsering – Vice President, China Arts and Crafts Association; President, Tibet Arts and Crafts Association
· Yang Hongjiao – Associate Researcher, Tibet Culture Museum; renowned Buddhist aesthetics scholar
· Danzen Chenlai – Executive Director, Gyantse Tibetan Rug Cultural Development Co., Ltd.; first “Tibetan Craftsman” in the rug field
· Wang Yudong – Chairman, Beijing International Design Week
· Cui Qiao – Chair, Beijing Contemporary Art Foundation; curator of China Pavilion at Venice Biennale
Tradition Meets Innovation
Premium Materials & Eco-friendly Processes
Rugs are crafted from Tibetan highland wool (over 4,100m altitude) and imported New Zealand wool, using eco-friendly dyes. Each rug involves ~35 stages of hand production, including the ancient linked figure-eight knot technique, and integrates high-density 3D weaving for collectible quality.
Empowering Local Communities
The project prioritizes employment and training for women artisans, supporting economic independence, fair trade, and safe working conditions — contributing directly to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Gyantse rugs are not only masterful works of craftsmanship, they are living vessels of Tibetan culture and a vivid model of sustainable development,” said Cui Qiao, Chair of BCAF.
“Through this competition, we are building a bridge between traditional wisdom, contemporary creativity, and the international market — ensuring this heritage thrives in the modern world while empowering local communities.”
From the natural hues of the plateau — Sophora yellow, madder red, acorn brown — to the cutting edge of global design, the 2025 Gyantse Tibetan Rug International Design Competition is a cross-cultural dialogue woven across time and space.
BCAF and its partners invite the global creative community to join this weaving of heritage and innovation — with design as the needle, and sustainability as the thread — to craft a future of cultural prosperity, economic empowerment, and ecological harmony.
Media Contact
Bao Bi, Media Officer
Beijing Contemporary Art Foundation (BCAF)
Email: jiawen.luo@bcaf.org.cn
Phone: +86 187 0168 0519
(Please specify: Media Name + Gyantse Tibetan Rug Project Collaboration)
