CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE IN RELIGIOUS HERITAGE
The Religious Heritage Innovator of the Year is a competition launched by FRH in 2022 to celebrate and promote excellence in the field of religious heritage. Each edition of the award recognises five projects that contribute significantly to the understanding, enhancement, safeguarding and promotion of religious places, objects and traditions. In this way, FRH encourages European citizens to embrace, protect, and celebrate the rich tapestry of religious heritage that forms an integral part of our cultural identity.
Entries to the competition are evaluated by a jury of experts in diverse disciplines related to cultural heritage. The evaluation criteria are based on the five pillars of the European Commission’s Framework for Action on Cultural Heritage: inclusion, sustainability, resilience, innovation and cooperation.
BECOME FRH’S INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR 2024
The 2024 edition is open for applications from 18 June to 30 September. The award will have an overall winner and four finalists whose projects will be widely promoted by FRH as examples of best practices and presented at the FRH Biennial Conference 2026.
WHO CAN APPLY?
European public and private institutions (cultural heritage organisations, museums, universities, tourism boards, etc.), public administrations at different levels (local, regional and national), professionals from the cultural and creative industries and civil society organisations with a project related to religious heritage are invited to submit their applications.
WHAT PROJECTS ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
Projects must support the understanding, enhancement, safeguarding and/or promotion of religious places, objects, or intangible religious heritage. Applications will be evaluated according to the five pillars of the European Commission’s Framework for Action on Cultural Heritage: inclusion, sustainability, resilience, innovation and cooperation.
WHEN WILL THE WINNER BE ANNOUNCED?
The winner and finalists will be selected by a jury of experts in cultural heritage at the beginning of October. FRH will announce the winner and four finalists of the competition in mid-October 2024.
AWARD CEREMONY
The Religious Heritage Innovator of the Year award is not only a recognition of excellence, but also a platform to showcase and promote successful projects in the field of religious heritage. The projects of the winner and the four finalists will be presented at the FRH Biennial Conference 2026. FRH will cover the conference participation costs of the winner up to a maximum of €1,000. The projects of the winner and the finalists will also be featured in a special publication and promoted across Europe as examples of best practices.
WHY SHOULD YOU PARTICIPATE?
The Religious Heritage Innovator of the Year Award is not only a recognition of excellence, but also provides a platform to promote your religious heritage project on a European level and gain international exposure, connect with relevant players in the cultural and creative industries, and become a reference for inspiration and best practices in the field.
DOWNLOAD THE CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
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