The municipality of Cuenca and UNESCO  are organizing a photography contest and exhibition. Below you can read the English translation of the announcement on the UNESCO website:

CUENCA: 25 Years as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Photography Contest and Exhibition

The Municipality of Cuenca and the UNESCO Office in Ecuador invite submissions for the “CUENCA: 25 Years as a World Heritage Site” Photography Contest and Exhibition.

Date: December 9, 2024

This initiative celebrates the 25th anniversary of Cuenca's inclusion on the World Heritage List, a recognition granted on December 1, 1999.

Key Dates

- Photo Submission Deadline: January 31, 2025

- Winners Announcement: February 15, 2025

- Photography Exhibition: March 1–31, 2025

- Exhibition Locations: High-traffic plazas and parks in Cuenca

Contest Guidelines

1. Theme

The contest’s theme, “CUENCA: 25 Years as a World Heritage Site,” invites amateur and professional photographers to capture the essence of Cuenca’s historic center and the Cajas Massif. Submissions should depict how residents interact with, celebrate, and take pride in their heritage, highlighting what makes these places unique.

2. Participants

Open to all individuals, regardless of nationality or age, who agree to the contest rules and accept the jury’s decisions. Categories include:

- Children: Up to 12 years old

- Teens: Up to 18 years old

- Youth: Up to 35 years old

- Adults: 36 years and older

3. Requirements

- Read and accept the contest rules outlined in this document.

- Submit photos via email to quito@unesco.org.

- Post the photo on social media, including a description of what makes Cuenca’s historic center or the Cajas special, using the hashtag #Cuenca25AñosPatrimonio and tagging @UNESCOQuito and @MunicipioDeCuenca.

- Any photographic technique is allowed; however:

- Altered images via collage, photomontage, or digital illustration are not permitted.

- AI-generated photos are not accepted.

- Basic photo retouching is allowed without altering the original content.

- Each participant may submit up to three original photographs with the following criteria:

a. Photos must be original and creative.

b. Submit each photo by email to quito@unesco.org.

c. Include the following with each submission:

- Photo description, full name, age, ID number, address, phone number, and email.

d. Photos must be in high quality, with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi, in JPEG, Photoshop EPS, or TIFF formats (RGB).

e. No watermark, date, or text (including photographer’s name) is allowed on the photo.

4. Deadline

- Photos must be submitted via email to quito@unesco.org by January 31, 2025. Submissions after this date will not be accepted.

Selection Process

- A jury designated by the organizers will select winners based on artistic quality, originality, and relevance to the theme.

- One winner and two finalists will be chosen for each category.

- Winning photos will be featured on UNESCO Ecuador and Cuenca Municipality’s social media platforms.

- Winners will be announced on February 15, 2025.

Disqualification Reasons:

1. Photos depicting violence, political content, or any form of discrimination (racist, sexist, xenophobic, etc.).

2. Plagiarism.

3. Submissions deemed of insufficient quality by the jury.

Prizes

- Winning photos will be printed in large format for outdoor exhibitions in prominent locations in Cuenca, with credit given to the authors.

- Featured in a commemorative book celebrating Cuenca’s 25th anniversary as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

- Displayed publicly online, in social media, and at the exhibition, with the author credited.

- One overall winner will receive a special prize from the event sponsors.

- First, second, and third prizes will be awarded in each category, with special mentions if deemed appropriate.

Intellectual Property

Participants declare authorship of submitted works and grant UNESCO Quito unrestricted rights to reproduce, transform, publicly display, and distribute the photographs globally for cultural and artistic purposes. The author’s name will always be credited. Participants are responsible for ensuring their works do not infringe third-party rights.

The organizers commit to crediting the author each time their work is reproduced, adhering to copyright laws.

Comic Con Ecuador 2025 is making a big splash this year by hosting events in not just one but two cities—Guayaquil and Cuenca.

What’s New This Year?

Comic Con Ecuador has been a beloved annual event in Guayaquil every August, drawing crowds of fans eager to celebrate their favorite pop culture phenomena. But 2025 is shaking things up.

This year, the event moves to June and introduces a second location in Cuenca, bringing the fun to even more fans. The announcement was made during a live stream on the convention’s official Facebook page on January 12.

When and Where?

• Guayaquil: June 13–15 at the Guayaquil Convention Center.

• Cuenca: September 27–28 at the Mall del Río Convention Center.

These will be two distinct events with unique guests and shows, so attending both is highly recommended for the ultimate experience.

What Can You Expect?

• Guayaquil: The convention space is expanding from 7,000 to a massive 10,000 square meters spread across two floors. This larger venue will feature new additions like a dedicated kids' zone and an enhanced gamer zone. Specific guests and activities are still under wraps, but the organizers promise an unforgettable lineup.

• Cuenca: While details are still limited, organizers emphasized that the Cuenca event will have its own unique attractions, making it worth the trip for die-hard fans.

Tickets and Pricing

Tickets are priced at $15 (including tax). 

More Information

See the official Comic Con Ecuador Facebook page for updates on tickets, guests, and more.

This day is an additional holiday because of the Independence of Guayaquil.

This day is an additional national holiday to create a holiday period from November 1 (Saturday) to November 4 (Tuesday).

This day is an additional national holiday.

This day is a national holiday to create a holiday period from May 23 (Battle of Pichincha) to May 25 (Sunday).

This day is a national holiday to create a holiday period from May 1 (Labor Day) to May 4 (Sunday).

January 2 and January 3, 2025, are additional national holidays in Ecuador. Note that many businesses will be closed from January 1 (Wednesday)  to January 5 (Sunday).  

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Cuenca's inclusion in the prestigious UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

To celebrate this occasion, the following events are planned:

Wednesday, November 27

On Wednesday, educational tours will be held, focusing on historical and archaeological research related to the conservation of built heritage. The tours will take place from 09:00 to 10:00 and from 11:00 to 12:00. The meeting point will be on Pasaje La Condamine in the Cruz del Vado neighborhood.

Additionaly, an exhibition title "Heritage Photograpy" will be held at the Casa de las Palomas, located at Calle Benigno Malo 6-40. The exhibition starts at 09:00.

Thursday, November 28 – ‘Mapping’ Agenda

At 17:30, a floral offering will be presented in Parque Calderón. At 18:00, artistic performances will take place on the balconies of Calle Simón Bolívar. At the same time, a 'mapping' of Cuenca Heritage will be projected at the following locations:

• Museum of Modern Art

• Church of San Sebastián

• Church of El Cenáculo

Also at 18:00, there will be a guided theatrical route of legends, from Calle Simón Bolívar to the Museum of Modern Art.

The Solemn Session will begin at 19:00 at the Museum of Modern Art. A concert in honor of Cuenca as a UNESCO World Heritage Site will be held at Parque San Sebastián at 20:00.

Friday, November 29 

On Friday, November 29, an outdoor film screening is scheduled at 19:00 at the Puente Roto.

A group of volunteers, including environmental engineer Marcelo Ullauri, who previously helped fight forest fires in the Cajas National Park, is launching an initiative to prevent the burning of "monigotes" (effigies) during the year-end celebrations in Cuenca. The goal is to reduce environmental pollution caused by the smoke from these burns.

Ullauri emphasized that the smoke from burning "monigotes" has a severe environmental impact. It not only worsens air quality and contributes to climate change, but also damages ecosystems. He explained that the smoke from these fires releases harmful substances like carbon dioxide (CO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and nitrogen oxides (NOx), which cause acid rain and form smog. Additionally, the burning of materials such as cardboard, wood, plastics, and synthetic fabrics releases toxic gases like carbon monoxide (CO), which harms the ozone layer and intensifies the sun's UV radiation.

This week, the group plans to formally request the Amistad Club, which organizes the traditional "Años Viejos" competition, to ask participants not to burn these effigies. They will also seek support from the Federation of Neighborhoods of Cuenca and the Consortium of Rural Parochial Boards of Cuenca to join the initiative.

César Banegas, president of the Amistad Club, said that if they receive a formal request, they will consider it within their board to make a decision. He noted that environmental protection is a priority, and any proposal supporting this would be taken seriously.

The registrations for the 2024 "Años Viejos" and 2025 "Comparsas" competitions are already open, with the events scheduled for December 31, 2024, and January 5, 2025, respectively. The "Años Viejos" competition celebrates the creation of monigotes through creative and current-themed designs, a tradition that started in local families and neighborhoods and has expanded to include institutions and businesses in the city.