Arts, entertainment and culture voucher of €400 launched for everyone born in 2004

YOUNG people who have turned 18 in 2022 or are due to celebrate their 'coming of age' before the year is out can apply for up to €400 to spend on arts, entertainment and culture as part of a one-off bid to kick-start the industry.

During the worst months of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, museums and cinemas were shut, no concerts, festivals or theatre plays went ahead, and although music, films, books and magazines were still being downloaded online or bought as hard copies, passing trade in shops selling them was minimal, and very little in the way of production was happening where this involved people being in close proximity with each other, such as actors.

The move by culture and sports minister Miquel Iceta is an attempt to help them claw back their losses by giving everyone an 18th birthday present this year.

Known as a Bono Cultural, the gift card or voucher cannot just be blown on anything – no spending €400 on video games, for example – since Iceta stresses that, as it involves 'a significant amount of public funds', it must be 'closely audited, transparent and its proper use monitored'.

It will cost the State €210 million, but is hoped to get young adults into the habit of spending their 'leisure money' on arts, culture and entertainment, so as to keep these industries thriving in the future.

Anyone born in 2004, resident in Spain – whether or not they are Spanish – and including asylum seekers if they have applied for refugee status, even if this has not yet been granted, has until October 15 to sign up.

They can then spend up to €100 of the gift card on physical books, magazines, the press, music scores for those who sing or play instruments, music (CDs, cassettes, vinyl records or however they prefer), films (DVDs or video tapes, depending upon what is out there), and which can be second-hand, given that certain formats of audio-visual goods are no longer retailed as new.

All these items have to be bought in person, though – they cannot be home-delivered, or sent to a collection point, such as an Amazon Locker.

Another €100 can be spent on these items in digital format – online magazines and press, e-books, video game or film downloads, music downloads, or subscriptions to digital music, film, gaming or reading platforms.

These subscriptions are valid for a maximum of four months.

The bulk of the voucher - €200 – is to spend on the activities which have most suffered through the pandemic.

Museum and art gallery visits, including 'themed' museums – meaning, for example, Valencia's City of Arts and Sciences would be covered – concerts of any description, performing arts or theatre, cinema trips, exhibitions of all types (as an example, the worldwide Harry Potter exhibition, which has so far been in Madrid and Valencia, would count), festivals, including music festivals, and any library services which attract a fee.

Items not covered by the voucher include school or college textbooks, software or hardware, electronics in general – you cannot use it to buy an e-reader, only for books to download onto an existing one – musical instruments, artistic material, sports events, bullfights, fashion and accessories, or anything food-related, such as eating in a restaurant.

This means you can use the card for cinema tickets, but not for popcorn and drinks to go with it.

Any items which are X-rated or considered pornographic are excluded.

Users can still return items if they are faulty or not required, but cannot get a cash refund – only a refund on their voucher, or an exchange for an item of the same value, or higher if they pay the difference, as long as the approved provider agrees to this in their policies.

The voucher is 'virtual' or 'digital' only, but in some exceptions – such as where a young person does not have access to a computer – it can be in physical format.

It is named, so cannot be shared with friends or family who do not qualify by age – the only way you can let others benefit from it is by buying them a present from your allowance.

A specific digital platform for downloading the voucher has been set up, and young people wanting to take advantage of it need to request a 'digital certificate' or Cl@ve code.

Once they have registered, the full amount of the voucher will become available to them automatically, with their name and a personal number code on it.