Submission Deadline: 1 October 2009

The European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage was launched in 2002 by the European Commission as part of the implementation of the Culture Programme. Europa Nostra, the Pan-European Federation for Cultural Heritage, was selected to run this Awards Scheme on the basis of its long experience in publicly recognising - at a European level - individual or joint excellence in the field of Cultural Heritage.

The EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards are granted annually to identify and promote best practices in the conservation of tangible cultural heritage, to stimulate the exchange of knowledge and experience throughout Europe, to enhance public awareness and appreciation of Europe's cultural heritage, and to encourage further exemplary initiatives through the Power of Example.

Criteria for the assessment of entries include excellence in the work executed and preliminary research conducted, as well as respect for artistic, cultural and social value, setting, authenticity and integrity. Special attention will also be paid to sustainability, interpretation and presentation, educational work, funding and management, and social responsibility. Entries can be on a scale ranging from small to large, local to international, and should display a standard of work considered outstanding in a European context. The EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards consists of two award levels. Up to six entries will be awarded a Prize, which includes a monetary award of € 10 000. Up to twenty-five entries will be awarded a Medal.

Outstanding heritage achievements will be awarded in the following categories:

Category 1: CONSERVATION

Outstanding achievements in the conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage in the following areas:

• Projects should have involved restoration, adaptation to new uses, building additions or alterations, or new design in conservation areas.
• The building / site / work(s) of art must be accessible to the public. Buildings or sites that are regularly used by large numbers of people, for instance schools or office premises, are considered accessible. Private buildings or sites that are regularly open to visitors are considered accessible.
• The project may include an interpretive display for cultural or educational purposes.
• Completed phases of large-scale projects are eligible. Entrants should state in the description how the phase relates to the project as a whole, and indicate the overall project’s expected completion date.
• The project must have been completed within the past three years: September 2006 - September 2009.

Conditions the projects should fulfil:

• Projects should have involved restoration, adaptation to new uses, building additions or alterations, or new design in conservation areas.
• The building / site / work(s) of art must be accessible to the public. Buildings or sites that are regularly used by large numbers of people, for instance schools or office premises, are considered accessible. Private buildings or sites that are regularly open to visitors are considered accessible.
• The project may include an interpretive display for cultural or educational purposes.
• Completed phases of large-scale projects are eligible. Entrants should state in the description how the phase relates to the project as a whole, and indicate the overall project’s expected completion date.
• The project must have been completed within the past three years: September 2006 - September 2009.

Category 2: RESEARCH

Outstanding research which leads to tangible effects in the conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage in Europe in any of the above-mentioned Category 1 areas.

• Studies, results of research and/or scientific publications may be submitted. If the study is preliminary research carried out before a now completed intervention, submit the entry as a Category 1 project only.
• The project must have been completed within the past three years: September 2006 - September 2009.

Category 3: DEDICATED SERVICE by INDIVIDUALS or ORGANISATIONS

Open to individuals or organisations whose contributions over a long period of time demonstrate excellence in the protection, conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage (relating to the above-mentioned Category 1 areas) in Europe. The contribution should be of a standard which would be considered outstanding in the European context.

• Entries must be nominated by a third party only.
• Entries must be supported by three letters of recommendation from persons other than the nominator.

Category 4: EDUCATION, TRAINING and AWARENESS-RAISING

Outstanding initiatives related to heritage education, training schemes in cultural heritage conservation, and programmes for raising awareness on cultural heritage.

• These initiatives should have been completed in within the past three years (September 2006 - September 2009) or at least should be sufficiently advanced to have led to tangible results in any of the above-mentioned Category 1 areas.

Who may submit an entry

• Entries may be submitted from all European countries. However, only entries from countries that take part in the Culture Programme of the European Commission are eligible for the monetary award.
• Entries may be submitted by anyone closely connected with the entry, as long as the permission from the owner of the building or site, author of the study, or nominee has been obtained prior to submission.
• Entries may be resubmitted once only in the same category with an enlarged documentation.

Entry dossiers

• Entrants should complete and submit the entry form and annex the required information. See ‘Dossier requirements’ at www.europanostra.org

• All dossiers must be submitted in English or French only.
• Dossiers will not be returned but filed in the Europa Nostra archives.

Selection procedure
Award-winning entries will be selected by a European Jury of independent experts. Jury members are designated by Europa Nostra. Entries in categories 1, 3 and 4 will be assessed on location by a local expert prior to the Jury meeting. Assessors will submit their recommendations to the Jury. Representatives of all winning entries will be invited to attend the European Heritage Awards Ceremony in June 2010 where they will be presented their awards.

Important Dates:
Closing date for submission: 1 October 2009
Jury informs entrants about their decision: 15 April 2010
European Heritage Awards Ceremony: June 2010

Download an entry form at www.europanostra.org

Read more on the winners of the 2009 European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Award at architects24.com: European Heritage Grand Prize Winners

Further Information:
EUROPA NOSTRA
Elena Bianchi
Heritage Awards Coordinator
Lange Voorhout 35
2514 EC The Hague • Netherlands
Tel.: + 31 70 302 40 58
eMail: eb@europanostra.org
web: www.europanostra.org

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