faq
Music or museum, theater or dance – for free: This is what the culture pass for young people offers. It starts on June 14th. Who can get the pass, how does it work – and what doesn’t work with it? An overview.
the initial situation
Especially after the Corona period, young people should be able to experience the diversity of art and culture in Germany again. With the Kulturpass, the federal government wants to inspire them and give them access. Because: a current one representative survey by the Bertelsmann Foundation According to the study, culture is important to the vast majority of people in Germany. They also want the cultural offerings, for example in theaters, to be preserved for future generations.
According to the survey, however, there is a discrepancy between the uniform desire for cultural preservation and the actual interest and use of the offers. Both in the population as a whole and in the generation of young adults between the ages of 18 and 29, two-thirds are not interested at all or are less interested in theater performances, classical concerts, opera, ballet and dance performances.
To the museum again? This can also be financed from the credit.
Culture pass – what is it?
The culture pass includes a one-time 200-euro budget that the state is giving to those celebrating their 18th birthday this year. You can use it to pay for concert tickets, books, music, theater or museum visits, among other things, according to your own taste. Those entitled can redeem the credit within two years on a digital platform that is available as an app and website.
Excluded from the offer are large online mail order companies or streaming services and music platforms, “registration is limited to local cultural providers,” according to the federal government. Longer-term leisure activities such as pottery or language courses are also excluded in the pilot phase, and this also applies to subscriptions.
where does the money come from
The federal government is providing 100 million euros in funding for the culture pass. The pilot project is to be reviewed at the end of the year. If it goes down well, it is conceivable to expand the offer to 15 to 17-year-olds. The Kulturpass is an initiative of the German Bundestag together with the Minister of State for Culture and Media, Claudia Roth, and the Federal Minister of Finance, Christian Lindner.
When does it start?
The culture pass starts on June 14, 2023, when the offers from various providers can be accessed via a digital platform. Both users and organizers have to register. The platform has been open to providers since mid-May. According to a spokesman for the Minister of State for Culture, the registrations so far show “that the culture pass can start in mid-June with a wide range of content and geography”.
Experience culture live and on site.
Who can get the pass?
Everyone who turns 18 in 2023 and lives in Germany can use the cultural credit, “whether they have a German passport or not,” says Roth. According to the Federal Statistical Office, that is around 750,000 young people.
In order to be able to use the credit, you have to identify yourself via the online ID function of the ID card – German ID cards have been equipped with this automatically since July 2017. For EU citizens, this can be done with an eID card. People without an EU passport need an electronic residence permit (eAT).
How do you get to the culture?
You can register on the digital platform from your 18th birthday. After that, the registered person can redeem their budget via the Kulturpass website or the app within two years from the date of registration.
Pass holders can reserve tickets for the desired offer or selected items on the website or via the app. You will receive a digital pick-up code for pick-up on site. The selection is not limited geographically, but interested parties can adapt their search to their location.
Books and comics are also among the offers.
How does this work for vendors?
Cultural providers can set up a “shop” on the digital platform and register their offers there. These can be events such as concerts or the cinema, but also objects such as comics, books or musical instruments. If their offers are accepted, providers will be reimbursed afterwards. Local cultural organizers and artists, but also book and record shops should also benefit from the expected higher demand. Minister of State for Culture Roth also sees “a great opportunity for the entire cultural scene”.
Is there a role model?
The federal government has other European countries as a model for the culture pass, such as France. There, the “culture pass” has existed nationwide since 2021. However, the German model differs in terms of the amount of the budget, the eligible age groups and the specifications for the use of the money.