Golden

Golden is a collaboration between MilkTea, Resonate and Juniper by the Sea, a limited edition hardback annual magazine created by and for ESEA communities. We capture a year in review, reflecting on the moments, movements, and voices that shape define our communities. From fashion and film to politics, food, literature, and beyond, Golden celebrates the breadth of ESEA creativity and thought in the UK. More than just a magazine, it's a precious cultural time capsule where ESEA perspectives take centre stage, documenting not just what we do, but how we see the world. 

A Call for Contributors

Golden is a new annual magazine dedicated to capturing the richness and complexity of British ESEA perspectives. Conceived as a cultural time capsule, each issue offers a high-end, thoughtful exploration of the year in review through the lenses of fashion, film, literature, nature, music, theatre, politics, photography, games and beyond.

We are seeking contributors who want to contribute to this collective vision. Writers, photographers, artists, critics, designers, and thinkers are invited to share work that reflects, challenges, or reimagines the ESEA experience in the UK today. Submissions may take the form of essays, interviews, reportage, visual art, creative writing, or other mediums that embody the spirit of Golden: bold, nuanced, and luminous.

As a publication made by and for the ESEA community, we especially encourage voices that are often underrepresented, approaches that stretch the form, and perspectives that sit at the intersections of culture, identity, and society.

The “why” behind Golden is simple:  a dedicated space to amplify British ESEA voices and to show the world the depth of our talent, thought and creativity. This magazine is designed to preserve our current moment. But more than that, it is a treasury of creativity and culture.. A statement that our stories matter, our perspectives are vital, and our community deserves a beautiful platform to be seen, heard and celebrated. 

The tone of Golden is a direct reflection of our community, nuanced, resilient, and unapologetically ourselves. We are looking for contributors, who don’t just tell their stories, but who build a new narrative. While the topics may be complex, our language is always clear and inviting. We believe that critical thinking can be expressed in a way that is accessible to all, and that the boldest ideas are those that are shared with heart.

Timings: our goal is to publish during Lunar New year in 2026, but we realise that this is a lofty aim, and will pivot to ESEA Heritage Month 2026 if this is not possible.

What do we mean by ESEA?

We use the term ESEA to mean anyone from the following countries and their diasporas who live and work in the UK. These countries make up an area that is known as East and South East Asia; Brunei, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, North Korea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Who are we looking for?

This list is not exhaustive but a starting point:

  • Writers

  • Photographers 

  • Artists

  • Critics 

  • Designers

  • Thinkers

What are we looking for?

  • Essays 

  • Interviews

  • Photography

  • Illustration

  • Visual art

  • Creative writing - prose and poetry

  • Reviews

  • Critique & cultural analysis

  • Food features

Like what you are reading? Then take a deeper dive into greater specifics by following this link which explains in greater detail the content we are looking for. Please read this fully before submitting an expression of interest.

If you are interested in contributing, please complete this Expression of Interest. The form will ask for:

  • Your name

  • Your email

  • Your Instagram handle

  • Description of what you want to contribute (100 words max)

  • Your bio (100 words max)

  • Example/s of relevant work

Deadline for expressions of interest: 31 October 2025.

Deadline for final submissions: 30 November 2025.

Important: All contributions will be subject to an editorial process. Contributors should anticipate working with editors and making necessary revisions prior to final delivery.

If your EOI is progressed we will offer you a flat rate honorarium of £100 for your contribution (on final delivery) and a copy of the annual when it is published.

Rights & Copyright: The rights to publish the work in Golden will be confirmed between the publishing team and each contributor individually via a Memorandum of Agreement. This includes the right to publish extracts of the work electronically or on social media. These rights will be exclusive for 12 months from the publication date, and non-exclusive thereafter. Contributors will retain copyright to their work. 

Invest in our Cultural Treasury - A Call for Benefactors

Golden is a not-for-profit annual magazine created by and for ESEA communities in the UK. As a cultural time capsule, it documents and celebrates the voices, creativity, and perspectives that shape our collective experience.

We invite benefactors who share our vision to support this project. Your generosity helps us honour contributors with fair recognition, keep Golden independent and community-led, and ensure ESEA voices are platformed. As a benefactor, you will receive:

  • Acknowledgement in print and online, not as advertising, but as recognition of your role in sustaining this cultural work.

  • Inclusion in our supporters’ spotlight section, where you can share a statement of your commitment to ESEA culture.

  • A signed complimentary copy of Golden on release. 

  • The knowledge that your support directly preserves and amplifies ESEA voices, ensuring they are recorded for future generations.

Golden is not about scale or commercial return. It is about value: creating a rare and enduring archive of ESEA expression. By becoming a benefactor, you are investing in cultural memory, solidarity, and legacy.

Please email us at hello@milkteafilms.com if you'd like to start a conversation with us.

Our Community Statement

Golden is a collaboration between MilkTea Films, Resonate, and Juniper by the Sea, created as a limited-edition annual hardback magazine by and for the British ESEA communities. Our mission is not driven by profit, but by expression, connection, and celebration. As a community project, MilkTea, Resonate, and Juniper by the Sea are working on a voluntary basis. We are deeply grateful for every individual who contributes their time, skills, and creativity. While this is not a commercial venture, we offer honorariums as a token of appreciation for those contributions.

Golden will be sold via our ESEA bookseller partner, Juniper by the Sea.

Partners

  • MilkTea shows the best of East & Southeast Asian cinema in the UK. Our work begins with screenings, but our goal is to build inclusion, communities & audiences. 

  • Resonate is Europe’s biggest East Asian culture website.

  • Juniper by the Sea is the UK's first East and Southeast Asian Bookshop.