Europa Nostra Serbia and the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia invite nominations for the annual Europa Nostra Serbia Award for Outstanding Individual Contribution to Cultural Heritage – Heritage Heroes.
The Heritage Hero award is an annual recognition presented to individuals, civic initiatives, or informal groups of citizens for their individual or collective contributions to cultural heritage, as well as for outstanding achievements and long-term dedication to the research, documentation, conservation, digitisation, interpretation, preservation, management, promotion, education, advocacy, policy making, and the development of innovative practices for the protection and sustainable use of heritage.
The award supports outstanding initiatives regardless of whether they relate to movable or immovable, tangible or intangible heritage. It equally recognizes the heritage of different national and ethnic communities, groups, and individuals, as well as heritage from different historical periods, including the recent past.
The award honors individual or collective contributions that have achieved significant and visible progress in safeguarding cultural heritage, independently or despite institutional or prevailing societal challenges. It is not presented to legal entities, institutions, or registered organisations and associations, but exclusively to individuals and informal groups of citizens active in the heritage field, whose work reflects professional standards and internationally recognised principles of cultural heritage protection. The aim is to acknowledge exceptional personal commitment, as well as collective civic engagement by informal groups of citizens who have made a meaningful contribution to preserving endangered cultural heritage.
Through this award, we also seek to encourage and highlight individuals, civic initiatives, and informal groups of citizens who work tirelessly to protect and promote heritage, inspire others to take action, and foster positive community change rooted in a deeper understanding of heritage, the culture of remembrance, and the values heritage holds for society today.
The call for nominations is open until 5 September 2026.
Who Can Submit a Nomination?
Candidates (individuals, civic initiatives, or informal groups of citizens) may be nominated by:
- Civil society organisations active in the preservation, promotion, and protection of cultural and natural heritage;
- Citizens and civic initiatives supported by a minimum of 15 signatures.
Nomination Requirements
Each nomination should include:
- A biography of the nominee (individual, civic initiative, or informal group of citizens), up to 2,000 characters, accompanied by a portrait photograph;
- A statement of nomination explaining the candidate’s achievements (up to 3,000 characters);
- Five photographs illustrating the nominee’s contribution and the impact of their work on preserving cultural heritage in their local community.
Nominations should be submitted by email to: daliborka.nikolic@evropskakuca.rs
Selection Process
The award recipient will be selected by an expert jury consisting of no fewer than five and no more than seven members, including:
- Four (4) members nominated by the Board of Europa Nostra Serbia from among its members and distinguished experts, artists, donors, and activists dedicated to culture and cultural heritage;
- One (1) member nominated by the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia.
Since 2023, the previous year’s laureate has also served as a member of the jury for the following year’s award.
The jury’s decision is announced each September during the European Heritage Days, while the Heritage Heroes award ceremony takes place every December.
The winner(s) will receive the “Wings 12” sculpture, created by independent artist Marina Nićiforović.
The award is being presented for the fourth time this year. Detailed rules and eligibility criteria are available HERE.
Previous Award Recipients
2022: Stanka Čoban – Didina kuća (Bač)
2023: Viktorija Aladžić (Subotica)
2024: Svetlana Spajić
2025: Ansambl Generalštab