Starting today, citizens can apply for the new Culture Bonuses, promoted by the Barcelona City Council through the Institut de Cultura de Barcelona (ICUB). The aim is to reach new cultural consumers and expand the audience base in the city. The project has a global budget of 1.5 million euros, with which the issuance of over 55,000 bonuses is planned.
The Culture Bonus will allow access to live performing arts shows (music, theatre, dance, and circus), cinema screenings in Catalan, and the offer of books in the Catalan language available in the city's bookstores. The program prioritizes Catalan culture, with a minimum of 70% of the global offer in this language, and 100% in the cinema and book sectors.
The target audiences are individuals distanced from cultural consumption, especially from areas with a risk of digital divide or social exclusion; young people between 18 and 30 years old; and regular cultural consumers who wish to optimize their budget.
The model is 100% digital, based on a prepaid wallet with 20 euros per user, integrated with the main ticketing systems. The system will incorporate real-time validation mechanisms to ensure security.
Regarding books, the balance can be used for the acquisition of books in Catalan and to obtain digital vouchers exchangeable at physical bookstores in the city, reinforcing local businesses.
The platform will always apply the best available price, be compatible with other discounts, and allow the use of the balance in one or multiple transactions. There are 3 program waves that will mark the expiration of the balance. The balance can be topped up up to three times a year.
Barcelona's 51 civic centers will play a key role in disseminating and supporting the initiative, especially in neighborhoods with lower habitual cultural consumption.
The platform launches today, and the bonus will be rechargeable in three periods: from November 4 to January 10, from January 11 to April 25, and from April 26 to July 31. It is expected that the total of 55,000 bonuses will be distributed across these three periods. The balance will expire at the end of each wave.
