More than 3,800 18-year-olds have activated their Culture Passes in less than two months since the launch of the pilot project, while over €58,000 has already been spent on cultural and media content, the Ministry of Culture and Media said.

The Culture Pass is a pilot project for all young people turning 18 between 1 January and 31 December this year. Each beneficiary receives €100 to spend on cultural and media content, including theatre performances, cinema screenings, concerts, museums, books and other cultural activities.

State Secretary at the Ministry of Culture and Media Kresimir Partl said interest in the programme was growing steadily, with more than 50 new users registering every day and over €2,000 being spent on cultural content on average each day. Cinema screenings and books have proved the most popular choices.

Partl said it was particularly encouraging that many users had already spent the full value of their vouchers, confirming the success of the programme’s format and its focus on this generation.

The scheme has also received a positive response from cultural service providers, with the Culture Pass currently accepted at more than 100 points of sale and further expansion planned, both in terms of participating venues and the range of cultural content available.

Partl said the ministry was monitoring young people’s interests and would soon extend the scheme to include the purchase of vinyl records.

The Culture Pass functions as a voucher that can be used electronically or physically solely for eligible content. After turning 18, users receive a notification through the e-Citizens system and instructions on how to activate the pass.

The €100 allocation can be spent in a single transaction or through multiple purchases over a one-year period, until the user reaches the age of 19. The electronic voucher, in the form of a barcode, is available through the Kooltura – Culture Pass system, accessible via a web browser or mobile apps for iOS and Android devices.