The launch of the “Cultural Pass” is approaching. Since mid-May, cultural providers in Germany have been able to register their offerings on the digital platform. On 14 June, the Cultural Pass app will be launched for 18-year-olds.
Cultural Pass Graphic The Cultural Pass: All young people turning 18 in 2023 will receive a budget of €200.
To support both young people and the cultural sector, the German government is introducing a Cultural Pass, following the example of other European countries. The program will start on 14 June 2023 and initially target all young people in Germany who celebrate their 18th birthday this year. According to the Federal Statistical Office, this corresponds to approximately 750,000 individuals.
Cultural providers can already set up a “shop” on the digital platform and register their offerings. This includes events such as concerts, theater and cinema shows, museum tickets, as well as physical products like books, comics, and musical instruments. The costs for the redeemed offerings will be reimbursed to the providers afterward.
Minister of Culture Calls for Participation “The Cultural Pass is a great opportunity for the entire cultural scene, especially in rural areas away from major cities,” emphasizes Minister of Culture Claudia Roth, who initiated the Cultural Pass. It is now crucial that this opportunity is seized so that young people can find a diverse range of offerings when the app launches, Roth adds. Therefore, the minister calls on all cultural providers to participate in the Cultural Pass.
How does the Cultural Pass work? All young people turning 18 in 2023 will receive a budget of €200. They can redeem this budget for a period of two years on a digital platform that will be available as an app and website.
On the platform, cultural providers can register and offer tickets for concerts, theater and cinema shows, as well as admission tickets for museums, exhibitions, parks, and items such as books, recordings, and sheet music. Registration is limited to local cultural providers, and mail-order, pure streaming services, and video games are excluded.
If successful, the program may be expanded in a second phase to include young people aged 16 to 17.