Culture minister: “If I was 18 this year, I'd spend my voucher on Elton John records”

TURNING 18 is always either an exciting or absolutely terrifying time, depending upon the life you lead in general, but it's rarely 'just another birthday' or devoid of emotions – and, if you live in Spain and it's your 18th this year, the ministry of culture wants to help you celebrate it with €400 to spend on entertainment and arts, as we reported earlier this week.

Brand-new adults will be stocking up with free books, CDs and DVDs, going to music festivals, museums, plays and the cinema without paying a cent – except on popcorn – provided they register by October 10.

The minister behind the move – aimed at boosting a wider industry sorely battered by Covid lockdowns and restrictions and, now, consumer-price inflation – is Miquel Iceta, who has made it very clear where his own Bono Cultural would be channelled if he was 18 again.

“I'd have spent it on the entire works of Elton John,” Iceta, 61, reveals.

He could use up to €100 on physical CDs or, if he prefers 'retro' supports, cassettes and vinyl, and up to another €100 on downloads of Elton's music.

“Also, I'd have spent it on more books.”

Half the voucher, or €200, has to be used to fund events and experiences rather than physical or digital products, meaning the British veteran singer-songwriter would have to go on tour in Spain for an 18-year-old Iceta's complete Bono Cultural to become an 'Elton voucher'.

In the absence of a live show by the Candle in the Wind legend, Iceta would blow this allowance on 'going to the theatre even more often'.

At least now Santa Claus knows what to pop into the culture minister's stocking this Christmas.

Iceta says he wants the very young to 'embark on experiences they have never considered before', opening new worlds for themselves which, hopefully, they will want to 'continue to explore' as they navigate the murky, daunting, fun, and thrilling waters of adulthood that they enter for the first time in 2022.

“About half a million young people have turned 18, or will turn 18, this year in Spain, and just in the first day since it was announced, 47,005 of them have been online to sign up for their 'culture voucher', with 22,748 completing their application,” Iceta, originally from Catalunya, reveals.

“We've spent the last few months explaining the system to associations representing all arts and entertainment sectors, and over 3,000 companies have signed up.”

When the gift card went live earlier this week, details of the dedicated web portal for acquiring it were not mentioned, but Iceta has now confirmed applications are made via the government-based website, Bono Cultural Joven (Bonoculturaljoven.gob.es).

They then have up to a year to spend it, although subscriptions purchased for music, gaming and e-book download or film and series streaming platforms – up to a maximum of €100 for digital entertainment in total – run for four months.

“The system is easy to use, but it's new, so we know we might need to make adjustments,” Iceta admits.

Although the 'culture voucher' scheme has involved 'a significant investment of taxpayer funds', according to the minister, he hopes it will be successful enough that the expense can be justified for future years.

Supporters of parties in government opposition have reportedly claimed the move is a 'bribe' for those who are only now becoming old enough to vote, but Iceta points out that 'anyone who thinks an 18-year-old's ballot can be bought for €400 doesn't know much about politics, or about young adults'.

Also, the 'culture voucher' is available to asylum-seekers and to residents who are not Spanish, neither of whom are able to vote in any case.

Some have criticised the fact that the voucher is not means-tested, but Iceta points out that lower-income youngsters will now be able to enjoy a world they could not otherwise have afforded, and those from higher-income families will be encouraged to try new experiences.

The scheme has been in place for some time in France and Italy, with huge success, he adds.