GLOBAL CRAFT DESTINATION AWARDS

1. Eligibility

• 1.1. Applications are open to:

  • 1.1.1. Craft villages, towns, districts, and regions

  • 1.1.2. Indigenous and traditional artisan communities

  • 1.1.3. Craft cooperatives and associations

  • 1.1.4. Community-based tourism organizations

  • 1.1.5. Local government authorities representing craft destinations

  • 1.1.6. Cultural institutions directly managing craft heritage tourism

• 1.2. Applicants must demonstrate:

  • 1.2.1. A living craft tradition practiced continuously for at least five (5) years

  • 1.2.2. Active artisan participation and knowledge transfer to younger generations

  • 1.2.3. Existing or emerging tourism activities linked to craft production

  • 1.2.4. Community involvement in governance or benefit-sharing

  • 1.2.5. Commitment to cultural and environmental sustainability

• 1.3. The following are not eligible:

  • 1.3.1. Individual artisans applying independently

  • 1.3.2. Commercial businesses without community-based craft roots

  • 1.3.3. Destinations primarily focused on mass-manufactured products

  • 1.3.4. Applicants under active legal dispute relating to cultural ownership or intellectual property

2. Nomination requirements

• 2.1. All nomination materials must be submitted in English unless otherwise approved by the relevant committee, which will then be responsible for translation to English.

• 2.2. All nominations must be submitted via the official GCDA Application Form

• 2.3. Each nomination must have one primary nominator and a seconder

• 2.4. The nominator is responsible for ensuring that:

  • 2.4.1. All information provided is true, accurate and complete;

  • 2.4.2. Permission has been granted for use of any support images and videos

  • 2.4.3. All required supporting documentation is included by the stated deadline.

• 2.5. Incomplete or late submissions may be deemed ineligible at the discretion of APCA.

• 2.6. APCA reserves the right to verify any information provided in the nomination.

3. Support Materials

• 3.1. Supporting materials may include but are not limited to:

  • 3.1.1. Images of the nominated destination, its activities, people, and key sites;

  • 3.1.2. Video recordings of the nominated destination, its activities, people, and key sites;

  • 3.1.3. Written documentation to support the nomination.

• 3.2. The nominator confirms that all necessary permissions and releases have been obtained from any rights holders featured in the materials.

4. Use of Images, Video and Promotional Material

• 4.1. By accepting nomination, the applicant grants the Asia Pacific Crafts Alliance a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to use, reproduce, publish, adapt and distribute submitted images, videos and written materials for non-commercial purposes of:

  • 4.1.1. Promotion and marketing of the Awards;

  • 4.1.2. Education and advocacy for craft destinations;

  • 4.1.3. APCA publications (print and digital);

  • 4.1.4. Websites and social media platforms;

  • 4.1.5. Exhibitions, presentations and events related to the Awards.

• 4.2. This licence includes the right to edit or format materials for design, layout and communication purposes, while maintaining the integrity of any work featured and appropriate credits to the original owner.

• 4.3. Materials will not be used for commercial resale without further written consent.

• 4.4. APCA will make reasonable efforts to credit any artist, photographer and/or videographer where such information is supplied.

• 4.5. Copyright and moral rights are retained by the original owner.

5. Consent and Privacy

• 5.1. Applicants consent to the name of nominated destination, images and promotional material being made public in connection with the Awards.

• 5.2. Personal information will be used solely for the administration and promotion of the Awards in accordance with applicable privacy and data protection laws.

• 5.3. APCA will not share personal contact details with third parties without consent, except where required for Award administration.

• 5.4. Confidential business and community information will be treated with reasonable care and used solely for assessment purposes unless written permission is granted.

• 5.5. Non-confidential information may be used for research, benchmarking, and promotion.

6. Assessment and Decisions

• 6.1. The GCDA follows a five-phase assessment process:

  • 6.1.1. Preparation & Self-Assessment

  • 6.1.2. Desktop Technical Audit

  • 6.1.3. On-site Validation & Field Inspection

  • 6.1.4. Categorisation & Strategic Improvement Roadmap

  • 6.1.5. Rectification & Official Certification

• 6.2. The nominated destination agrees to participate fully in all relevant stages.

• 6.3. All nominations will be assessed by an Expert Council using the official evaluation criteria.

• 6.4. Decisions of the Council and APCA Board are final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding outcomes.

• 6.5. APCA reserves the right to withhold an award if no nomination meets the required standard.

7. Site Visits and Inspections

• 7.1. Applicants must provide reasonable access for APCA-appointed assessors.

• 7.2. Applicants may be responsible for local logistics including:

  • 7.2.1. Local transportation

  • 7.2.2. Translation support

  • 7.2.3. Accommodation (if agreed in advance)

• 7.3. International travel costs may be determined separately.

• 7.4. Applicants must cooperate with interviews, community consultations, and documentation during site inspections.

• 7.5. Destinations receiving improvement recommendations may:

  • 7.5.1. Implement corrective actions within the designated timeframe

  • 7.5.2. Apply for reassessment

  • 7.5.3. Receive technical advisory support where available

• 7.6. Certification will only be issued upon successful verification.

8. Use of Award Title and Logo

• 8.1. Awarded destinations may:

  • 8.1.1. Use the official GCDA designation and logo for promotional purposes

  • 8.1.2. Reference their certification during the validity period

• 8.2. Misuse of the GCDA title or logo may result in revocation.

• 8.3. APCA retains all intellectual property rights related to the GCDA brand.

9. Validity and Renewal

• 9.1. Award recognition remains valid for three (3) years unless otherwise stated.

• 9.2. APCA reserves the right to conduct periodic reviews.

• 9.3. Renewal applications may be required.

10. Revocation

• 10.1. APCA may revoke certification if:

  • 10.1.1. Material misrepresentation is discovered

  • 10.1.2. Standards significantly decline

  • 10.1.3. Cultural exploitation or unethical tourism practices are identified

  • 10.1.4. Serious environmental harm occurs

11. Cultural Integrity and Ethical Standards

• 11.1. Applicants must:

  • 11.1.1. Respect indigenous rights and community ownership

  • 11.1.2. Ensure fair compensation for artisans

  • 11.1.3. Prevent cultural appropriation

  • 11.1.4. Protect traditional knowledge

  • 11.1.5. Avoid exploitative tourism practices

12. Liability

• 12.1. APCA is not liable for:

  • 12.1.1. Loss or damage arising from participation

  • 12.1.2. Costs incurred during preparation or assessment

  • 12.1.3. Delays caused by force majeure events

• 12.2. Applicants participate at their own risk.

13. Governing Authority

• 13.1. Matters relating to the GCDA shall be governed by the internal regulations of APCA and applicable international cultural cooperation standards.

14. Acceptance of Terms

• 14.1. Submission of an application constitutes full acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.

• 14.2. APCA reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions at any time. Updated versions will be published through official channels.