Democracy Stories Lab

The world needs compelling storytelling about democracy—the ways we work together to collectively make the decisions that shape our lives. When democracy stories touch people’s hearts and minds, they can move them to participate in many forms of public life and, in doing so, create social and political change. 

And yet, today, most messaging about democracy centers on how it is declining worldwide. What's rarely shown is a democratic future led by hope, one in which our collective decisions shape a shared vision for individuals, families, communities, countries, and the planet.

The Democracy Stories Lab was created to change that. This open call invites creators from around the world to produce or share stories that bring democracy to life— stories that are imaginative, human, and made to travel.

The Democracy Stories Lab is an initiative of People Powered, a global hub for participatory democracy, in partnership with the Democracy Narratives Alliance (DNA), a global initiative to shift how we talk about democracy.

The Call

We are seeking creative visual content that can reach diverse audiences, through social media. Four winning entries will be awarded USD $1,000 each, and five honorable mentions will be awarded USD $500 each.

We invite you to submit up to two finished visual content pieces that tell a compelling story about the future of democracy. Think: What would the future look like if people had a real say in the decisions that shape their lives?

Submissions can include short videos, illustrations, or graphics. We are looking for new ideas and authentic voices that open up a conversation about collective decision-making in unexpected ways.  Your content piece can be original or already published, as long as it addresses the key points below. 

Applications are now open until September 14

Apply now!

What we’re looking for

Stories with a forward-looking vision about how people make decisions together—that connect with experiences and feelings like:

  • The power and trust of working things out as a community

  • The dignity of being taken seriously and having your voice heard

  • The freedom to disagree without fear

  • ...and more that you can think of

These aren't just stories about political systems. They're stories about voice, fairness, belonging, and what happens when ordinary people hold real power over decisions that shape their futures.

These are important topics, but your tone can range from serious to comedic. We don’t put a limit on your creativity. Your submission should build on one of five narrative types identified in the DNA research brief, “How to Talk About Democracy”:

  1. Outcome-oriented narratives: how democracy shows results

  2. Intrinsic-value narratives: why democracy is the best choice

  3. Collectivist narratives: what’s the importance of diverse voices

  4. Individual narratives: how democracy is empowering

  5. Process-oriented narratives: showing democratic institutions work

For more guidance, take a look at our short creative brief.

See creative brief

Formats

We seek social media content that is primarily visual, as it tends to reach and engage audiences more effectively. Formats may include short videos (Under 3 minutes, vertically oriented) and illustrations. You can also submit written pieces or audio content if they are presented in a visual format (for example, as a filmed performance). 

    • Up to two finished pieces of content per applicant. 

    • Content must be aligned with one of the five narrative types 

    • Content must be ready to publish — no works in progress or concept pitches

    • Content can be in any language but must include English subtitles if it’s not in English

    • Content can be original or already published, but must not infringe on third-party rights

Who can apply

This call is open to individual creators and small teams anywhere in the world. We're looking for people who have something new to say about democracy and a creative way to say it.

Maybe you work in civic tech, advocacy, or community organizing, and you've been itching to tell stories that go beyond the usual talking points. Maybe you make comedy, art, illustration, games, or lifestyle content that already sparks conversations about social issues — and you can connect those issues to how democracy shows up in people's everyday lives.

What matters is that you bring a fresh perspective on what the future of democracy could look like if people genuinely got to decide together on the issues that shape their lives.

We especially welcome creators who:

  • Reach audiences outside the usual democracy circles — through unexpected formats, genres, or voices.

  • Already have an audience that trusts you, and whose content moves people — sparks conversation, reaches new audiences, or shifts how people think.

  • Reimagine how we talk about voice, fairness, freedom, and power — not just repeat what's been said before.

  • Come from historically marginalized communities

If you think your idea fits, don't hesitate to apply — we are open to all ideas!

Awards

Four winning entries will receive awards of USD $1,000 each. Five honorable mention entries will receive awards of USD $500 each.

Additionally, the four winners will receive:

  • Amplification across the People Powered and DNA communications networks, reaching democracy advocates, civil society organizations, civic tech partners, and engaged audiences globally

  • Inclusion in a global webinar, where your work will be shared with an international audience, and connect with other creators and organizations in the democracy space

  • Honorable mentions will also be featured on the DNA website and social media, and may be invited to participate in the screening

How to apply

Applications must be submitted through the official application form. The form will be available on the People Powered Democracy Narratives Alliance page until September 14.

Subscribe to our newsletter to be updated on the results!

Timeline

  • Call release: June 16, 2026

  • Applications open: July 14, 2026

  • Submission deadline: September 14, 2026

  • Winners announced: October–November, 2026

Apply now!

    • Up to two finished content pieces:

      • Original or unpublished content: Submitted as an unlisted link on your platform of choice (YouTube, TikTok, Substack, etc.).

      • Published content: Submit the public link to your content

      • Must adhere to the AI policy in the terms and conditions below

    • A short description (300 words max) of your content, including: the narrative type(s) you chose, the story that you're telling, what change you expect, and your creative process.

    • A brief creator bio (up to 150 words)

    • Basic information about your distribution channels: which platforms you use, who your audience is (including approximate size), and any evidence of how your content has reached non-traditional audiences

    • Alignment with one of the five narrative frameworks on the creative brief.

    • Emotional resonance 

      • Does the content evoke a genuine emotional response (hope, urgency, empathy, indignation, belonging, etc.) rather than staying purely informational?

      • Does it use storytelling, personal narrative, or relatable characters/situations rather than abstract arguments alone?

      • Is the emotional tone authentic to the message, rather than manipulative or exaggerated?

      • Would someone unfamiliar with the topic feel something, not just learn something?

    • Potential to reach a broad audience beyond the circle of democracy supporters

      • Is the content likely to reach audiences outside existing pro-democracy or civic engagement circles?

      • Does the format, platform, or style make it accessible to people who don't normally engage with political content

      • Does the applicant have (or show potential to build) reach into new networks or communities, rather than only their existing audience?

      • Note: a smaller following doesn't exclude an application - we're looking at potential reach and relevance, not just current numbers.

    The selection committee includes civil society organizations and communication and arts professionals:

    • Camila Rodas, Puentes, Colombia/Spain

    • Muhammad Chaw, Gambia Participates 

    • Mrinal Kumar Sarkar, Partiran, Bangladesh

    • Alba Gutierrez, Better Politics Foundation, Spain/Germany

    • Lize Mogel, People Powered, United States

  • By accepting an award, creators commit to:

    • Publish or reshare their content on their own channels within the timeframe defined after selection.

    • Share basic performance metrics (views, shares, saves, comments) with the People Powered team after publication, using native platform analytics.

    • Participate in an online screening where the winning creators present and discuss their work and results, offering visibility and peer exchange.

    • Allow People Powered and DNA member organizations to be listed as collaborators where available, share and amplify their content across their networks.

    • Grant People Powered the right to make minor editorial adjustments — such as adding subtitles, credits, or light formatting tweaks — while preserving the original content.

  • Creators retain full ownership of their content. By submitting to this call, applicants grant People Powered and DNA member organizations a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to share, republish, and amplify their content across their networks and platforms with appropriate credit to the creator.

    People Powered will not sell, license to third parties, or use submitted content for commercial purposes without the creator's explicit consent.

    Selected creators grant People Powered the right to make minor, non-substantive adjustments to their content — such as adding subtitles, titles, credits, or light formatting changes — to ensure accessibility and consistency across platforms. Any such changes will preserve the original intent and creative integrity of the work. Creators will be informed of any adjustments before publication.

    By submitting, applicants confirm that:

    • The content is created by them 

    • They hold all necessary rights to the content, including any music, visuals, or third-party material included

    • The content does not infringe on the intellectual property or privacy rights of others, and does not contain material that is harmful, discriminatory, defamatory, or in violation of applicable laws.

    • AI policy: We welcome submissions that use AI tools to support the creative process — for example, editing, subtitling, translation, or production assistance. However, the core creative work (concept, narrative, and primary content) must be substantially human-made. Fully AI-generated submissions will not be accepted.

    • People Powered reserves the right to disqualify any submission that does not meet these standards.

Organizations involved

The Democracy Stories Lab is an initiative of People Powered, a global hub for participatory democracy. People Powered builds the power and impact of organizations and leaders around the world who are building a more participatory democracy, through programs such as participatory budgeting, participatory policy-making, participatory planning, and citizen assemblies. We’re like a global union for participatory democracy workers. The Democracy Stories Lab was voted into existence through PP Decides, People Powered's own participatory budgeting process, making it an outcome of the very democratic culture we aim to promote.

The initiative is supported in part by the Democracy Narratives Alliance (DNA), whose research on “How to talk about democracy” provides the strategic foundation for this call.