National Competition for School Students in Albania: “Living Heritage”
The national competition “Living Heritage” aims to engage school students from across Albania in exploring, documenting, and creatively interpreting intangible cultural heritage, while fostering awareness and appreciation of local traditions, folklore, oral histories, and cultural practices within Albanian communities.
The competition will create a space where young people can express their cultural identity through contemporary artistic and digital forms, building bridges between traditional heritage and its continuity in modern times.
The competition will be organized within the framework of the DMO Albania project “Heritage is our Brand,” implemented by DMO Albania in partnership with EU Policy Hub, with the financial support of the European Union.
Concept
“Living Heritage” will invite students to discover stories, customs, legends, rituals, songs, traditional crafts, and other elements of intangible cultural heritage from their communities and interpret them creatively through various artistic and innovative forms.
The focus of the competition will not only be the documentation of heritage, but also its personal and creative interpretation by children and young people, making cultural heritage more accessible and meaningful to younger generations.
The competition will also promote the use of digital tools and contemporary communication methods to make learning and cultural engagement more interactive and inclusive.
Story Genres
Competition Categories
Students may apply in one of the following categories:
Essay / Story
Reflection, analysis, or interpretation of an element of intangible cultural heritage.
Theatre / Performance
Stories based on folklore, legends, or local traditions.
Graphic Design
Posters, illustrations, comics, visual identities, or other artistic forms.
Multimedia
Short videos, animations, creative audiovisual content, or other forms of cultural interpretation.
Participation
The competition is open to all schools in Albania, including lower secondary (9-year education) and upper secondary schools.
Participation may be:
- Individual
- Group-based
Phase I – Competition
June – October 2026
During this phase, information and orientation activities, as well as the competition process involving students and teachers, will take place.
Activities will focus on:
- Promoting the competition
- Using creative and digital tools in educational work with students
- Organizing information sessions in schools
- Developing and submitting student works according to the criteria defined in the call for applications
Phase II – Evaluation and Award Ceremony
October – November 2026
During this phase, submitted works will be evaluated by a jury of professionals from the fields of culture, arts, and education, based on the competition criteria.
Main activities include:
- Reviewing and evaluating applications
- Announcing winners and awarding prizes to students and participating schools
Evaluation and Awards
Entries will be assessed based on:
- Creativity and originality;
- Connection to Albania’s intangible cultural heritage;
- Artistic and technical quality;
- Educational and cultural impact.
Awards
Certificate of Appreciation
First Prize: €200
Second Prize: €150
Third Prize: €100
In addition, winners may be involved in other activities and initiatives related to the promotion of cultural heritage.
Application link: https://forms.gle/UCRhbc6tmVcJ2dEx6
Application deadline: October 15th , 2026