Germany launches ‘Kulturpass’: 200 euros for cultural events and products – but with restrictions

Berlin. Good news for young people: The federal government is making 200 euros for leisure offers relaxed. The aim of the so-called culture pass is to kill two birds with one stone. On the one hand, young people should be more enthusiastic about local art and culture. On the other hand, the industry, which is still suffering financially from the effects of the corona pandemic, is to be strengthened.

What is the culture pass?

With the culture pass, young adults can buy tickets for events and products worth 200 euros. These include, for example: Evil, concerts, parks, theaters, museums and exhibitions. But books, CDs or musical instruments can also be paid for with it. The project starts on June 14th.

What is included in the culture pass?

Cultural workers have been able to unite since May Shop set up and register their offers on an online platform. So far, over 700 providers have done so. Almost 1.6 million events and products are already in the repertoire. The culture pass is limited to local cultural events. Large sales platforms, streaming offers, computer games and online mail order companies are excluded.

Who can register for the Kulturpass?

The culture pass is aimed at all young people adult in Germany who have turned 18 this year or will be. According to the Federal Statistical Office, that’s around 750,000 people.

What do I have to do to get the money?

In order to get 200 euros as an 18-year-old, online registration is required. There is one for that website and also a Kulturpass app that can be downloaded from June 14th. For the Registration one of the following three documents is required: an ID card with an online ID function, an eID card or, for non-EU citizens residing in Germany, an electronic residence permit. In order to select a ticket or a product, it is reserved digitally and then picked up on site from the cultural workers. The credit can be redeemed over two years. The costs will be reimbursed to the providers afterwards.

Where does the budget for the Kulturpass come from?

The Bundestag is providing 100 million euros for the culture pass. The funds come from Cultural Agency of the federal government. The pilot project is an initiative of the German Bundestag, Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth and Federal Minister of Finance Christian Lindner.

How long will the pilot project last?

It starts this year. Should the Kulturpass be successful, it should be continued and in a second step also for teenagers open to 16 to 17 year olds.

Why did the federal government create the Kulturpass?

The pilot project aims to support local cultural providers who are Corona-Pandemics were hit particularly hard. In order to increase demand and, above all, to get younger audiences enthusiastic about culture again, the Federal Government has taken the example of other European countries and introduced the culture pass.

Background: Preserving culture is important to the majority, but hardly anyone takes advantage of what is on offer

A current representative survey by the Bertelsmann Foundation comes to the conclusion that the majority of the German population cultural although important. However, it is noticeable in the study data that the interest does not necessarily mean that the offers are actually used. For example, more than half of those surveyed think that theaters should be preserved for future generations. But for only nine percent, they actually represent an important part of life.

Young people under the age of 30 in particular say with above-average frequency that they Theater feel out of place or don’t know how to behave properly there. It is important to them that current pieces are shown and that casual events are offered, where there is also something to eat and drink. “Young people in particular must be inspired by culture and won over as an audience. You have to understand theaters and museums as open spaces. This is the only way that art and culture can unfold their enormous power,” says Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth to our editorial team.