European Commission: Young European Heritage Makers 2024

Guidelines for participation to the Young European  #HeritageMakers Competition 2024.

What is it?

Children and young people play a crucial role in the future of heritage protection and promotion and are a precious source of creative ideas and contributions to the field of heritage in general. 

The Young European Heritage Makers is a competition for young people in Europe. It gives them a chance to explore their surroundings, discover interesting parts of their heritage, and share these with the world. The competition encourages young people to understand heritage and express their views. 

Why?

The Young European #HeritageMakers Competition has three main goals:

• Share Experiences: Collect stories about how children and young people understand the European aspect of their local heritage. This can include physical heritage like monuments, natural landscapes, or cultural traditions such as dancing or singing.
• Recognize Young Talent: Highlight the work of young people interested in heritage.
• Connect Across Europe: Bring together young heritage makers from different parts of Europe. 

The theme for 2024 is “Heritage of Routes, Networks, and Connections”. We encourage participants to explore stories of Europe related to this theme in tangible, intangible, natural, or digital heritage. 

Examples of Activities:

• Host community events, workshops, or discussion groups.
• Organize quests, treasure hunts, or visits to local heritage sites like museums, monuments, or historical buildings.
• Encourage participants to explore their family heritage by talking to older generations and learning about their community’s history. 

Who can participate?

Any group of young people or individuals under 18 from participating countries - Armenia, Finland, Ireland, Italy, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Portugal, Poland and Ukraine - can join the competition. Entries are accepted in two age categories: 6-11 years and 11-17 years. 
For the 6-11 age group, there is no restriction on group size. For the 11-17 age group, the group should have 2-5 participants to qualify for European-level evaluation. 

All eligible entries will be published as Young European Heritage Makers stories and promoted at the European level. If selected as a national winner, the entry must include an English description for evaluation. 

Prizes

All of the submitted works will be published on the EHD website, after National Coordinators have confirmed their eligibility.  

At the national level, the top 5 entries from each age category will receive special EHD goodie bags and certificates.

One selected work from each category will be included in the European evaluation. At the European level, winners in the 11-17 age category will get to visit Strasbourg in 2025 and have their work exhibited. 

How to participate?

• Organize an Activity: Create an activity under the theme "Young European Heritage Makers" with a group of young people. There are two age categories: children born between 2013 and 2018, and young people born between 2007 and 2013. The activity should answer the question: What is your European heritage?
• Present the Outcome: Share the results through a video (up to 5 minutes) or a visual medium (photo, painting, drawing), accompanied by a description of up to 800 words.
• Submit Your Entry: Upload your group’s work to the EHD website, including details about the participants and the facilitator. 

Important Dates

• 2 September 2024 – 31 December 2024: Organize activities and upload entries.
• 31 January 2025: National level evaluation submitted to the EHD Secretariat.
• February 2025: European level evaluation.
• March 2025: Winners announced. 
• May 2025: Strasbourg exhibition and visit for winners in the 11-17 age category.