(Bandar Seri Begawan, 22nd) Jointly organized by Red Wolf Media & Culture, Chung Hwa Middle School Brunei, and Brunei Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Cultural Association, the 'Red Wolf Borneo Cultural Festival' will be grandly held on August 8, 2026, at Chung Hwa Middle School Brunei. Currently, preparations are in their final sprint, and this grand cultural event—gathering calligraphy elites from Brunei, Sarawak, and Sabah—is about to make its debut.
Chairman Yang Zhensheng stated that, since its founding 18 years ago, Red Wolf Culture has remained dedicated to creating a diverse artistic platform for the youth of Brunei. From initially organizing calligraphy spring festival activities to singing competitions and poetry film creations, Red Wolf Culture has step by step sowed the seeds of Chinese culture in Brunei—the 'Nation of Peace.'
He said that this year's festival centers on the art of calligraphy, aiming to build a platform for calligraphy enthusiasts from Brunei, Sarawak, and Sabah to communicate, discover outstanding calligraphy talents, and further promote the inheritance and development of Chinese culture in Borneo.
Tri-Regional Competition in Calligraphy
The 'Borneo Calligraphy Competition' features both an Open Category and a Novice Challenge Cup, both conducted via on-site writing. Open Category works must be signed and stamped, using a full-sized Xuan paper (69 cm × 138 cm); Senior High and Junior High categories will use half-sized Xuan paper (34 cm × 138 cm); and the Primary School category will use quarter-sized Xuan paper (34 cm × 69 cm).
The panel of judges is composed of veteran calligraphers from Brunei, Sarawak, and Sabah. The scoring criteria consist of 30 points for character structure, 30 points for writing brushwork, and 40 points for composition and layout. Each category will award a Top Ten prize. At the same venue, calligraphic masterpieces by regional calligraphers will also be exhibited for public appreciation.
Diverse and Exciting Cultural Activities
The cultural festival will begin at 9 a.m. with an opening ceremony, during which the guest of honor will strike the gong, as well as present the 'Borneo Cultural Contribution Award,' 'Borneo Chinese Literary Arts Achievement Award,' and 'Borneo Chinese Culture Lifetime Achievement Award,' among other honors.
Subsequently, the chairman will announce the calligraphy competition themes. After the guest of honor tours the calligraphy exhibition, the on-site calligraphy competition will officially commence.
In addition to the calligraphy competitions, the event also features a variety of rich cultural exchange activities. A winner's experience sharing session will be held in the morning, while the afternoon will feature a traditional papermaking workshop (hosted by the Sabah Kota Kinabalu Calligraphy Association), a stele inscription copying lecture (by Mr. Xu Qingxi), and the highly anticipated 'AI and Calligraphy' special lecture, delivered by Dr. Zhou Decheng from Singapore; President Hong Jingkun of the Taiwan Writers Association will share insights in a poetry film creation seminar.
Inviting All Sectors to Join
Yang Zhensheng pointed out that this festival is not just a calligraphy contest, but an important platform for promoting the Chinese cultural roots in Borneo. The organizers have provided subsidies to various calligraphy associations in Sarawak and Sabah to help promote the event and have invited 30 students with a keen interest and potential in calligraphy to participate in the lectures.
The closing ceremony and awards presentation will be held at 5 p.m., during which prizes for the Borneo Inter-school Calligraphy Competition, Novice Challenge Cup, and Open Category on-site calligraphy competition will be awarded.
Starting at 6 p.m., there will be a networking dinner and calligraphy exchange event, providing an opportunity for calligraphy enthusiasts from all three regions to exchange skills and form friendships.
The organizers welcome all calligraphy enthusiasts and the public across Borneo to participate enthusiastically, joining hands to promote the ongoing inheritance of Chinese culture.
He said that this year's festival centers on the art of calligraphy, aiming to build a platform for calligraphy enthusiasts from Brunei, Sarawak, and Sabah to communicate, discover outstanding calligraphy talents, and further promote the inheritance and development of Chinese culture in Borneo.
Tri-Regional Competition in Calligraphy
The 'Borneo Calligraphy Competition' features both an Open Category and a Novice Challenge Cup, both conducted via on-site writing. Open Category works must be signed and stamped, using a full-sized Xuan paper (69 cm × 138 cm); Senior High and Junior High categories will use half-sized Xuan paper (34 cm × 138 cm); and the Primary School category will use quarter-sized Xuan paper (34 cm × 69 cm).
The panel of judges is composed of veteran calligraphers from Brunei, Sarawak, and Sabah. The scoring criteria consist of 30 points for character structure, 30 points for writing brushwork, and 40 points for composition and layout. Each category will award a Top Ten prize. At the same venue, calligraphic masterpieces by regional calligraphers will also be exhibited for public appreciation.
Diverse and Exciting Cultural Activities
The cultural festival will begin at 9 a.m. with an opening ceremony, during which the guest of honor will strike the gong, as well as present the 'Borneo Cultural Contribution Award,' 'Borneo Chinese Literary Arts Achievement Award,' and 'Borneo Chinese Culture Lifetime Achievement Award,' among other honors.
Subsequently, the chairman will announce the calligraphy competition themes. After the guest of honor tours the calligraphy exhibition, the on-site calligraphy competition will officially commence.
In addition to the calligraphy competitions, the event also features a variety of rich cultural exchange activities. A winner's experience sharing session will be held in the morning, while the afternoon will feature a traditional papermaking workshop (hosted by the Sabah Kota Kinabalu Calligraphy Association), a stele inscription copying lecture (by Mr. Xu Qingxi), and the highly anticipated 'AI and Calligraphy' special lecture, delivered by Dr. Zhou Decheng from Singapore; President Hong Jingkun of the Taiwan Writers Association will share insights in a poetry film creation seminar.
Inviting All Sectors to Join
Yang Zhensheng pointed out that this festival is not just a calligraphy contest, but an important platform for promoting the Chinese cultural roots in Borneo. The organizers have provided subsidies to various calligraphy associations in Sarawak and Sabah to help promote the event and have invited 30 students with a keen interest and potential in calligraphy to participate in the lectures.
The closing ceremony and awards presentation will be held at 5 p.m., during which prizes for the Borneo Inter-school Calligraphy Competition, Novice Challenge Cup, and Open Category on-site calligraphy competition will be awarded.
Starting at 6 p.m., there will be a networking dinner and calligraphy exchange event, providing an opportunity for calligraphy enthusiasts from all three regions to exchange skills and form friendships.
The organizers welcome all calligraphy enthusiasts and the public across Borneo to participate enthusiastically, joining hands to promote the ongoing inheritance of Chinese culture.