Call for Candidates for the Selection Committees of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards: Apply by 21 June 2026
Applications are open for experts wishing to serve on the Selection Committees of the 2027 and 2028 editions of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards, which are co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the EU.
What do the Selection Committees do?
The members of the five Selection Committees, one per category of the Awards, play a crucial role as they will be responsible for evaluating all the eligible entry dossiers in their respective categories and selecting a shortlist of entries.
The five categories of the Awards are:
- Conservation & Adaptive Reuse;
- Research;
- Education, Training & Skills;
- Citizens’ Engagement & Awareness-Raising; and
- Heritage Champions.
Selection Procedure
All entries to the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards are first evaluated and shortlisted by the Selection Committees. There will be a maximum of 60 shortlisted projects across all five categories of entry.
The shortlisted entries are then further evaluated by local assessors who provide a report to the Heritage Awards Jury.
The Heritage Awards Jury then selects the final winners. The Jury 2027 will be composed of the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the five Selection Committees and one Chair appointed by the Board of Europa Nostra upon invitation.
The duration of the Selection Committee meetings depends on the number of entries per category. However, two full days are usually required for the screening and discussion of dossiers. The meetings will take place online or in-person between October and November 2026.
Appointment and benefits
The appointment covers a two-year mandate (2027–2028). While no remuneration is provided, members benefit from joining a valuable European network of heritage professionals and gaining unique insight into heritage practice across Europe. Travel and accommodation costs for in-person meetings will be covered by Europa Nostra.
A past member said that being part of a Selection Committee means “Being able to know projects from all over Europe and to learn with them. We can find excellent best practices and, by having critical thinking on the projects, we can also improve the projects and work we are engaged in as professionals.”
Who can apply to be a member of a Selection Committee?
- Candidates should have proven expertise and/or experience related to one or more aspects of the broader field of cultural heritage (tangible, intangible, digital).
- International and/or European experience is an asset.
- A working proficiency in English is required, as the entry dossiers are presented only in English.
- It is also important that the candidate is prepared to spend some time (depending on the number of dossiers submitted, on average, 1 week) studying the dossiers ahead of the meeting of the selection committee.
- The Selection Committees will study the dossiers via an online platform, so access to the internet and proficiency in using a computer will be necessary.
- Candidates should be willing to travel in order to attend the Selection Committees’ meetings (min. 1 night; max. 3 nights).
- Prior involvement with Europa Nostra, including participation in, organisation of, or attendance at related activities, would be considered an asset.
- Previous members of the Selection Committees may reapply for a maximum of one term.
For all new candidates (those who have never served as a member of the Heritage Awards Juries or Selection Committees in the past), an endorsement will be necessary.
A new candidate for the Selection Committee can be endorsed by:
- a Vice-President of Europa Nostra
- a member of the Board of Europa Nostra
- a member of the Council of Europa Nostra
- a former member of the Heritage Awards Jury / Selection Committee
- a member of the European Heritage Alliance
- an associate or member organisation of Europa Nostra
- a partner of the European Heritage Hub
Applications from people of all races, faiths, genders/gender identities, ages, sexual orientations, as well as people with disabilities, are encouraged.
How do candidates apply?
Applications can be submitted by 21 June 2026 via this online form.
The Selection Committees will be appointed by the Board of Europa Nostra. Candidates will be informed of the outcome of their application in July 2026.
When making the selection, the Board will endeavour to ensure the following:
- Complementarity of competencies and experiences
- A balanced representation of genders
- A balanced geographical distribution
For further information, please read the Call for Candidates for the Selection Committees.
Do you have any questions?
If you have any questions regarding the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards or the selection procedure, please contact Elena Bianchi, Programme Manager at eb@europanostra.org
