UNESCO and Temasek Foundation had artists from three countries co-create two shows

Embracing Shared Heritage Through Performing Arts, an initiative run by UNESCO in partnership with Temasek Foundation, set out to give artists from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore — countries with diverse histories, identities and art traditions — space to meet, exchange ideas and create new works from the cultural heritage connecting them.

Rather than each country presenting its own culture, artists from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore spent four months co-creating two works from shared heritage.

The four-month process began with an April masterclass led by Frankie of Australia's Sensorium Theatre on opening performance to neurodivergent children through gestures, textures, aromas and tastes. HU木AN, on society's relationship with the forest, premiered at the Puppet Festival on 6–7 October at Kampung Media, staged inclusively for neurodivergent audiences, with puppets made from used plastic packaging — including a rhino by a visual artist from Banten. House of the Tongue, on Peranakan identity, directed by Melati Suryodarmo, ran at the Bedog Arts Festival on 9–10 October at Banjarmili Studio. Children's workshops, a games corner and a Shared Heritage Kitchen on Peranakan food ran alongside.

Two new cross-border works premiered in Yogyakarta, one deliberately accessible to neurodivergent audiences. No audience figures are given; Temasek Foundation's James Chan framed the goal as exchanges that strengthen intercultural relations and promote harmony amid regional diversity.

In October 2026, two new performances — HU木AN and House of the Tongue — premiered in Yogyakarta as the culmination of Embracing Shared Heritage Through Performing Arts, an initiative implemented by UNESCO in partnership with Temasek Foundation. Artists from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore had spent four months exchanging ideas and building joint works exploring what 'common cultural heritage' means in Southeast Asia.

UNESCO Jakarta's head of culture, Moe Chiba, says art works often cross national borders in unexpected ways but the artists rarely get opportunities to meet and work together, which is why the initiative gave them space to co-create. The process started with an April masterclass in which Frankie of Australia's Sensorium Theatre walked the artists through opening performance to neurodivergent children — dialogue and negotiation not just verbally but through gestures, textures, aromas and tastes.

HU木AN, created with The Artground's Luen and staged at the Puppet Festival on 6–7 October at Kampung Media, explores society's relationship with the forest through stories, memories, beliefs and relationships between humans and nature. It uses an inclusive approach for neurodivergent audiences, and its puppets are made from used plastic packaging, including a rhino built by a visual artist from Banten.

The second work, House of the Tongue, directed by Melati Suryodarmo and staged at the Bedog Arts Festival on 9–10 October at Banjarmili Studio, takes up Peranakan identity from multiple perspectives — languages, food, and memories that may have been hidden or forgotten. Alongside the two premieres ran a creative workshop for children, a game and creation corner, and a Shared Heritage Kitchen discussing and cooking Peranakan acculturation dishes.

Artists co-created across three countries instead of each presenting its own heritage.

HU木AN was staged for neurodivergent audiences, using gestures, textures, aromas and tastes as channels.

Its puppets were made from used plastic packaging, including a rhino by a Banten visual artist.

The model pairs a UN agency with a regional foundation and local festivals.

Co-creation beats representation: funding artists to build new work together from shared heritage yields pieces no single-country showcase would.

The report covers the October 2026 run — the two premieres and the accompanying workshops and kitchen — with no later touring plans or audience figures given.