Heritage Innovation Program (HIP)
Youth-driven heritage research and creative production preserving community stories through technology — with real impact and real leadership.
HIP is for participants who are ready to lead. It's designed for young people and community members with experience in digital media and community-based work who want to take on original heritage research and creative production projects. HIP sits in the Elevate stage of the E4 Ecosystem — it's advanced, leadership-oriented, and connected to stipend-supported pathways.
HIP participants lead original research and creative production projects focused on Austin's cultural heritage. Projects might include documentary films, AR experiences, oral history archives, community installations, or digital publications. Each project is community-centered — developed in partnership with heritage organizations, neighborhood leaders, and cultural institutions.
Participants work in small teams with structured mentorship from experienced researchers, media professionals, and E4Youth alumni. Projects are designed to have lasting community value and professional-quality output.
Community-based research and heritage documentation
Advanced creative production across multiple media
Project leadership and team management
Partnership development with community organizations
Professional presentation and public speaking
Published, portfolio-quality heritage projects
Pathways to stipend-supported and employer-funded roles
Kwame Asante
E4 Live volunteer → DSP → Get Creative! videographer → HIP documentary lead → stipend-supported media director
Kwame's HIP project — a feature-length documentary exploring heritage preservation in East Austin — earned community recognition and professional attention. The research skills, production leadership, and community relationships he built through HIP led directly to his current role as a stipend-supported media director, where he produces E4Youth's public content and mentors new participants entering the ecosystem.
“I went from holding a camera at an event to directing the whole production. This ecosystem keeps opening doors.”
— Kwame Asante
Apply
HIP accepts experienced participants ready for leadership-level projects. Prior E4Youth experience or equivalent community-based work is expected.
Propose a Heritage Project
Community organizations and cultural institutions can propose heritage projects for HIP teams to develop.
Partner With Us
Heritage organizations, archives, libraries, and cultural centers can partner on research and production.
Get Started
Ready to be part of this experience? Connect with E4Youth today.