UNESCO-Greece Melina Mercouri International Prize for the Safeguarding and Management of Cultural Landscapes
Online Submission of applications until 30/4/2019
Overview and Background of the Prize
- The UNESCO-Greece Melina Mercouri International Prize for the Safeguarding and Management of Cultural Landscapes was created in 1995 to reward outstanding examples of action to safeguard and enhance the world’s cultural landscapes, a category of World Heritage.
- The Prize, generously supported by the Greek Government, bears the name of Melina Mercouri, former Minister of Culture of Greece and a strong advocate of integrated conservation.
- The US $30,000 Prize is awarded every two years to one laureate.
- The prize has been awarded six times between 1995 and 2011.
- The next Prize will be awarded in Autumn 2019, in connection with the 40th Session of the UNESCO General Conference.
Who may submit nominations for the Prize?
- Governmental agencies from the
UNESCO Member States, in consultation with their National Commissions for UNESCO; - NGOs that have official partnerships with UNESCO; and
- International, regional and national professional, academic and non-governmental organizations active in the field of cultural landscapes.
Who is eligible?
Individuals, site managers, institutions, other entities, communities or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that have made a significant contribution to the safeguarding, management,
How to apply?
Submit a nomination form online, in English or French, between 30 November 2018 and 30 April 2019 (midnight Paris time) at: http://whc.unesco.org/en/culturallandscapesprize
What is a Cultural Landscape?
Cultural landscapes, defined as the combined works of nature and man, embody a long and intimate relationship between people and their natural environment. Whether found in urban or rural settings, they are all the fruits of diverse human-nature interactions and thus serve as a living testimony to the evolution of human societies.
Some cultural landscapes are designed and created intentionally by people (such as garden and parkland landscapes), while others evolve organically over time. In some cases, the evolutionary process is “fossilized” in material form (such as those found in prehistoric caves and rock shelters), while others continue to evolve and are still playing an active role in contemporary society (such as cultivated terraces). Some cultural landscapes are considered sacred, especially in places where people possess powerful cultural, religious and often ancestral associations with their natural surroundings.
For more info: