NRW community heritage award programmes

In late July 2026 the Kreis Borken district in North Rhine‑Westphalia extended the deadline for its 2026 Heimat‑Preis, a regional heritage award funded by the state programme “Heimat. Zukunft. Nordrhein‑Westfalen.” The extension to 15 August allowed non‑profit clubs, groups and initiatives in Borken and the city of Viersen to submit projects that promote local identity, cultural heritage, integration, tolerance or environmental protection. Winners would share a €10,000 prize fund and be honoured at the end of the year.

A week later, the state government and the NRW Foundation announced the 2027 Engagement Prize NRW, inviting applications from established non‑profit entities that rely on volunteer involvement. The prize, themed “Together acting: For a vibrant democracy,” set a 15 September 2026 deadline, earmarking €1,000 for twelve “Engagement of the Month” projects and €5,000 for three overall winners.

Simultaneously, the city of Moers opened nominations for its own Heimat‑Preis under the same state programme, with a 20 September deadline and a prize pool of up to €5,000 for up to three winners. Both awards aim to recognise and support voluntary projects that preserve local heritage, foster community cohesion, and address cultural, environmental and inter‑generational challenges.