​UNESCO-Greece Melina Mercouri International Prize for the Safeguarding and Management of Cultural Landscapes was created in 1995 with joint funding by Greece and UNESCO; it stands as the only one within UNESCO's Culture Sector. The Prize underlines the importance of cultural landscapes as a fundamental conceptual aspect of monuments and archaeological sites, and rewards outstanding examples of action to safeguard and enhance the world's cultural landscapes as part of World Heritage.

The Prize was originally awarded in 1999; since then it was awarded every two years, with the exception of 2009, due to an insufficient number of candidates, according to UNESCO. The Prize was awarded for the last time in 2011.

Following UNESCO's revised strategy with regard to Prize funding, since 2018 UNESCO-Greece Melina Mercouri International Prize is funded in whole by the Greek Government; total expenditure amounts to 75.000 USD, whereas the Prize laureate will receive 30.000 USD.

Relaunching the Prize is an initiative of outstanding importance, in that Greece is funding a large international cultural Prize, thereby reinforcing its status in large-scale international organizations. Moreover, it highlights the multi-faceted work of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports, which is inspired by Melina Mercouri's legacy and her vision for culture.

Deadline for submission of nominations: April 30, 2019

For more information on the Prize and the submission process please visit:

http://whc.unesco.org/en/culturallandscapesprize