5th International Award UCLG – Mexico City – Culture 21

Entries are open for the 5th International Award UCLG – Mexico City – Culture 21. This edition recognises cities and individuals who have excelled in the promotion of cultural rights in the context of the COVID-19 crisis and post-pandemic recovery or who have promoted culture as an important part of the caring system.

The 5th edition will also recognise 50 candidacies as finalists and good practices with the label ‘Cultural Rights and the Covid Crisis: the 50 Best Actions’.

The Award is an initiative of the City of Mexico and the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG). The winners will receive a trophy produced by an artist from Mexico City, accompanied by a recognition signed by the Head of Government of Mexico City and by the President of UCLG. They will be invited to the Award Ceremony, as well as to the UCLG World Congress, which will be held in 2022. 

City, local or regional government category

This category will award a city, local or regional government whose policy, programme or project has significantly contributed to the promotion of cultural rights. The application must explain the local context of the pandemic, demonstrate its close relationship with cultural rights, and outline its alignment with the SDGs (UN 2030 Agenda) and/or with the New Urban Agenda. The candidacy must provide evidence of the impact and the success achieved.

The Award is open to direct or indirect UCLG members, as well as to any local or regional government collaborating with UCLG’s partner organisations. Each city, local or regional government may submit only one candidacy.

Individual category

This category invites all the members of UCLG (direct or indirect), as well as other interested individuals and organisations, to make a nomination of an internationally renowned individual. The nomination shall state explicitly the contribution of the personality concerned in the context of the COVID-19 crisis, as well as to the understanding of the relation existing between culture and sustainable development, including the promotion of cultural rights, the connection between culture and the SDGs (UN 2030 Agenda) or the New Urban Agenda. 

The Individual Award will be designated by the Jury, without an open competition process. The Jury may award a single individual or decide that the award will be shared by more than one person, as has been the case in previous editions.

Application guidelines 

Deadline: 22 April 2022