The European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards are granted annually by the European Union and Europa Nostra in order to recognise, celebrate and promote best practices in the conservation of tangible cultural heritage throughout Europe .

The protection and enhancement of European cultural heritage in all its forms - architectural heritage, cultural landscapes, works of art and archaeological sites, and their related tangible and intangible aspects - are among the priorities of the European Union's Culture 2000 Programme. The European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage was launched in 2002 by the European Commission as part of the implementation of its Culture 2000 Programme. Europa Nostra was selected as the organisation responsible for the running of this Scheme on the basis of its long experience in publicly recognising excellence in the field of heritage.

The purpose of this European Heritage Awards Scheme is to promote high standards of conservation practice, to stimulate the exchange of knowledge and experience throughout Europe, to enhance public awareness and appreciation of European cultural heritage, and to encourage further exemplary initiatives through the Power of Example.

Outstanding heritage achievements will be awarded six monetary “Prizes” of 10.000 €  each, in addition to “Medals” and “Diplomas” in each of the following categories:

1. Conservation of: 
a. Architectural heritage 
b. Landscapes 
c. Works of art 
d. Archaeological sites
2. Studies in the field of cultural heritage conservation
3. Dedicated Service to heritage conservation by individuals or groups

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 which would be considered outstanding in a European context. Buildings and sites must be accessible to the public. Projects and studies must have been completed within the last three years (September 2003 - September 2006). The completeness and the presentation of the dossier will be taken into account.

Closing date:
15 September 2006 (Categories 1 & 3)
01 September 2006 (Category 2)

Categories
Select the most appropriate category and submit one entry only per project or field of work.

Category 1: “Conservation Achivements” in the following areas: 
a. Architectural Heritage
Conservation and enhancement of buildings or sites: restoration, adaptation of buildings to new uses, building additions or alterations, or new design in conservation areas. The project can relate to a single building, a group of buildings, an historic urban environment, or an industrial heritage structure.
b. Landscapes
Conservation, enhancement and rehabilitation of historic gardens and parks, urban or rural areas, larger areas of designed landscape, or areas of cultural, environmental and/or agricultural significance. 
c. Works of Art
Conservation and enhancement of a collection of historic and artistic importance or of old works of art, which may include interpretive display for cultural or educational purposes. 
d. Archaeological Sites
Conservation or enhancement of an archaeological heritage site, which may include interpretive display for cultural or educational purposes.
• Integrated projects which cover several or all of these areas are also encouraged to apply.
• The building or site must be accessible to the public. Private buildings or sites that are regularly used by large numbers of people, for instance schools or office premises, are considered accessible.
• Completed phases of large projects are eligible. Entrants should state in the description how the phase relates to the project as a whole, and indicate the project’s expected completion date.
• The project must have been completed within the past three years: September 2003 - September 2006.

Category 2: “Studies” in the field of cultural heritage conservation
An outstanding study 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 restoration, submit the entry as a Category 1 project only.
• The study must have been completed within the past three years: September 2003 - September 2006.

Category 3: “Dedicated Service” to heritage conservation by individuals or organisations
Open to individuals or an organisations whose contributions over a long period of time demonstrate excellence in the protection, conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage (in 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.

Who may submit an Entry?
• Entries may be submitted from the European Union member states, acceding or candidate states, and from member states of the European Economic Area . Entrants from all other European countries are strongly encouraged to apply for a Medal or Diploma, but will not be eligible for the monetary “Prize” of 10 000 € .
• 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 entering.
• Entries may be resubmitted once only.

Entry Dossiers
• In addition to completing the entry form, entrants should submit a dossier providing detailed information on their entry. Please follow carefully the ‘Dossier requirements’ for the appropriate category when preparing your dossier, as non-compliance will result in the entry being disqualified and not submitted to the Jury.
• All dossiers must be submitted in English or French.
• Receipt of the dossiers will be acknowledged by the Europa Nostra Secretariat.
• 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 in consultation with the European Commission. The Jury will adopt its own rules of procedure upon proposal of its Chairman. The decisions of the Jury are final.
• Entries in categories 1 and 3 will be assessed on location by a local expert prior to the Jury meeting. Assessors will report their recommendations to the Jury.
• Entrants will be informed of the decision of the Jury by April 2007. Correspondence may not be entered into regarding the decision of the Jury.
• Representatives of all winning entries will be invited to attend the European Heritage Awards Ceremony in June 2007 where they will be presented their awards.

Awards
• A Prize of  10 000 € may be awarded to the top entry in each of the six categories
• All winning entries will receive a framed certificate indicating the level of Award (Prize or Medal).
• Medal winners will receive a bronze trophy.
• All winning entries in Category 1 will receive one bronze wall plaque. Additional plaques may be available at the expenses of the laureates upon request.
• Texts on certificates, trophies and plaques for winning entries from the EU member states, acceding or candidate states, and member states of the European Economic Area will read “European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Award” (in English or French). Texts on certificates, trophies and plaques for winning entries from other European countries will read “Europa Nostra Awards”.
• Entrants are encouraged to designate a beneficiary organisation and destination for the Prize money, in the event that their project wins a top Prize award.

Publicity
• Award-winning achievements will be widely publicised throughout Europe.
• Award winners are expected to provide Europa Nostra with additional photo material for PR purposes upon notification of the Jury decision, if necessary.
• Award winners are expected to organise, in consultation with Europa Nostra and after the European Heritage Awards Ceremony, a local ceremony to present their award to the local community and promote their achievements at the national level.
• Owners or those responsible for the Category 1 winning projects are obliged to place the awarded bronze plaque, in-situ and in a visible location