ISESCO, Heydar Aliyev Foundation unveil major international prize for cultural heritage innovation

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO) and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation have announced the creation of the “Natavan” Prize, named in honour of the Azerbaijani public figure Khurshidbanu Natavan.

The announcement was made in an official ISESCO statement, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

The prize will be awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to “advancing and promoting best practices in the management and preservation of cultural heritage in the Islamic world.”

The press release explains that effective heritage preservation and management profoundly impact people’s self-awareness and ensure that future generations inherit a legacy they can take pride in.

“Given the current global challenges — driven by unsustainable development, conflicts, and climate change — humanity faces many threats to the world’s heritage,” the statement reads.

ISESCO emphasised that, in light of rapid and complex global challenges, there is a need to foster an environment that encourages innovative and technologically sound approaches to preserve the Islamic world’s heritage for present and future generations.

The Natavan Prize aims to recognise and promote excellence in preserving and managing tangible cultural heritage, while also supporting the visibility and recognition of heritage across the Islamic world.

“It encourages outstanding initiatives that preserve collective memory and celebrate the best examples of heritage in our world. The goal is to highlight innovative practices in heritage preservation and management, assessed in terms of applied skills as well as the social and economic impact of the project on local communities,” the release stated.

The prize will include a monetary award of $30,000 for individual projects and $100,000 for collaborative initiatives.

To qualify for the Natavan Prize, a project must meet the following criteria: it must be implemented in one of the ISESCO member states; it must be led by an ISESCO member country; and it must span a three-year timeframe.

Eligible recipients may include organisations, institutions, as well as individual professionals such as architects, conservators, and curators.

According to the prize guidelines, the deadline for project submissions is September 30. A shortlist of selected projects will be announced on February 1, 2026. The winners will be revealed on April 18, with the final publication of the best projects and awards ceremony scheduled for July 1, 2026.

By Tamilla Hasanova