In the framework of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008, the European Commission has launched the photo initiative “Cultures On My Street” open to all EU residents in all 27 Member States. With the initiative, the EU aims to challenge Europeans to capture their vision of intercultural dialogue and share it with the world. The competition deadline is 30 June, 2008, and photos may be submitted through a special competition website. Prizes valued at 15,000 euros await the winners.

Ján Figel’, Commissioner for Education, Training, Youth and Culture, commented on the launch of the competition: “Europe has changed a lot over the past few years. We have seen an expansion of the Union along with greater mobility between its borders and an increase in exchanges with the rest of the world. Diversity in Europe is a fact, and Europeans are interacting with more and more people from different cultural backgrounds. With this photo initiative the European Union encourages everyone living in Europe to show their view of dialogue and diversity. We want to see what intercultural dialogue means to Europeans today and how they experience it in their lives.”

The “Cultures On My Street” photo competition was launched on 3 March with a special website www.street-cultures.eu, where participants can post their entries until 30 June. All European residents regardless of age or origin are invited to join the competition. There are no borders to the imagination and inspiration, and photos can come from themes as diverse as education or religion, science or culture, migration, minority groups or youth, or simply from everyday life.

Selection Process and prizes

Four winners in all will be selected from the submissions. Three will be chosen by a jury of established artists and leading figures on intercultural issues, who will look for creativity and technical quality as well as the photographer’s ability to portray the theme of intercultural dialogue. The fourth winner will be “the public’s favourite”, selected through online voting by visitors to the competition website.

In September at a ceremony in Brussels, the winners will be presented with their prizes; trips to European capitals and professional cameras, so they can keep on capturing their views of intercultural dialogue.

The winning and short-listed photos will also get publicity all around Europe, appearing in materials to help break down communication barriers and foster cultural diversity and in a travelling exhibition that will further spread the message.

For more information on how to enter the “Cultures on my street” competition, please visit www.street-cultures.eu