Northeast Passage Association

The Northeast Passage Association (Hungarian: Észak-Keleti Átjáró Egyesület, formally Észak-Keleti Átjáró Kulturális és Tudományos Egyesület) is a cultural and scientific nonprofit organisation founded in 2007 in Miskolc, Hungary. It is named after its northeastern location within Hungary. Its broad mission is to uncover, research and present local values in novel and participatory ways, with a particular emphasis on preserving and popularising the city's cultural and built heritage. The association is best known for its work around the Avasi kilátó (Avas Lookout Tower), an iconic Miskolc landmark that it sought to rehabilitate and bring back into public conversation. It organises a varied programme of activities, including the Utánam, Srácok city-knowledge walking tours, the revival and promotion of the traditional Kama (purse-ball) team game, and the Koffertúrák adventure game. It also runs festivals, publishes books and periodicals, and maintains an active online presence through its website, blog, YouTube channel and podcast. Its work has been recognised with several awards: the 2014 Europa Nostra Cultural Heritage Award (Grand Prix) in the education, training and awareness-raising category; the 2015 'Civil Organisation of the Year' in Miskolc; the 2017 National City Marketing Diamond Award for the Kama project; the 2023 Szemere Bertalan public life award; and the 2024 NIOK Civil Award in the best local product/service category. The association remains active in Miskolc, operating from its Átjáró-ház base and continuing to develop heritage, community and tourism projects.

The Northeast Passage Association was founded in 2007 in Miskolc as a cultural and scientific nonprofit organisation. Its name reflects its northeastern position within Hungary. From the outset, its broad goals included uncovering, researching and presenting local values in novel and inclusive ways, with a strong focus on preserving and promoting the city's cultural and built heritage. A central project has been the Avasi kilátó, Miskolc's iconic lookout tower. The association aimed to rehabilitate the tower and bring it back into public discourse and fashion. Alongside this, it developed a diverse programme of activities: the Utánam, Srácok city-knowledge walking tours, the revival and popularisation of the traditional Kama (purse-ball) team game, and the Koffertúrák adventure game, among others. Over the years the association has produced numerous publications, including the Miskolci útikalauz book series, and has organised festivals and community events. It maintains an active online presence with a website, a blog (Utánam, Srácok), a YouTube channel with nearly 200 videos, and a podcast. Its efforts have earned significant recognition. In 2014 it received the Europa Nostra Cultural Heritage Award (Grand Prix) in the education, training and awareness-raising category. In 2015 it was named 'Civil Organisation of the Year' in Miskolc. In 2017 the Kama project won the National City Marketing Diamond Award. In 2023 the association was honoured with the Szemere Bertalan public life award, and in 2024 it received the NIOK Civil Award in the best local product/service category. The association continues to operate in Miskolc, based at the Átjáró-ház, and remains dedicated to its mission of heritage, community and tourism development.

• 2024

  Received NIOK Civil Award in best local product/service category.

• 2023

  Honoured with the Szemere Bertalan public life award.

• 2017

  Kama project won the National City Marketing Diamond Award.

• 2015

  Named 'Civil Organisation of the Year' in Miskolc.

• 2014

  Received Europa Nostra Cultural Heritage Award (Grand Prix) in education, training and awareness-raising category.

• 2007

  Association founded in Miskolc.

A community-driven heritage and cultural nonprofit that uses participatory, playful and research-based methods to reconnect residents and visitors with Miskolc's local values.

• Utánam, Srácok! city tours

  City-knowledge walking tours.

• Kama (purse-ball) game

  Revival, research and popularisation of a traditional team game.

• Koffertúrák

  Adventure game.

• Miskolci útikalauz book series

  Publisher series of local guides.

• Átjáró folyóirat

  Periodical publication.

1. 1Észak-Keleti Átjáró Egyesület official websiteatjarokhe.hu
2. 2Wikidata entrywikidata.org
3. 3Hungarian Wikipedia articlehu.wikipedia.org