Will the Culture Pass survive? What the current political debate reveals

The Culture Pass , which since 2023 has provided young adults with €200 and later €100 for cultural activities, may be facing its demise. Despite its popularity – by the end of 2023, 285,445 18-year-olds had already registered and activated their budget – its future is currently under intense discussion.

In the two years since its introduction, more than €100 million has been spent on the Culture Pass. Although many young people apply for and use the free program – by February 2025, around 2.8 million cultural offerings with a total value of €53.5 million had been reserved – the Federal Court of Auditors questioned the program's funding on constitutional grounds. In fact, the Court of Auditors states that the Culture Pass is not constitutionally protected.

While Germany lags behind Denmark in reading literacy in the latest PISA study , the end of this funding program could have far-reaching consequences for cultural education. But what exactly is the Culture Pass, what successes has it achieved, and what are its chances of being continued?

What is the Culture Pass and how does it work?

The Culture Pass for 18-year-olds in Germany is a very good idea. It offers an opportunity to make it easier for young people, especially those with little prior cultural experience, to access the cultural world. However, it is important that the Culture Pass is integrated into cultural education programs to achieve greater cultural participation

— Olaf Zimmermann , Managing Director of the German Cultural Council *

In June 2023, the German Federal Government introduced the Culture Pass – an initiative of the German Bundestag and the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media . This program is specifically aimed at young people living in Germany who turn 18 in the respective year. Initially, those eligible born in 2005 received a budget of €200 * , while those born in 2006 still have €100 available * .

The Culture Pass, announced by Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth at the end of 2022, was intended to kill two birds with one stone, according to a recent press release from the German Cultural Council . Firstly, following the model of its counterpart in France, it aimed to offer 18-year-olds access to cultural activities. In their year of adulthood, they were to receive a kind of "culture voucher" to independently purchase cultural experiences or enjoy them live. Secondly, it was designed to draw attention to physical cultural venues. The motto: Get off the couch and into the bookstore, cinema, concert hall, or theater. This was intended to help boost sales after the slump caused by the pandemic.

Registration done via a free app or website . Young people need an electronic identity card with online functionality, an eID card for EU citizens, or an electronic residence permit for non-EU citizens * . The budget is activated after successful identification.

What could the credit be used for?

With this credit, young people can take advantage of various cultural offerings: concerts, cinema visits, theatre performances, museum admissions, as well as the purchase of books, CDs, or musical instruments. However, large online platforms and mail-order companies like Amazon are excluded. Reservations are made digitally, while pickup takes place on-site * .

The budget is non-transferable (see Terms & Conditions ) and remains valid for two years * . The Culture Pass pursues a dual goal: On the one hand, it aims to inspire young people to engage with cultural offerings, and on the other hand, it supports the cultural sector, which has been weakened by the pandemic * .

It is the responsibility of cultural providers, such as cinemas, theaters, concert organizers, bookstores, etc., to make their offerings available in the CulturePass app. As of August 2025, 3.3 million offers were available. Games, streaming services, and online retailers were excluded from the outset. This was a deliberate choice to strengthen the physical cultural offerings.

Successes and challenges since its introduction

Since its introduction, the Culture Pass has recorded impressive usage figures. By the end of 2023, 285,445 18-year-olds born in 2005 had already registered and activated their budget. More than 211,000 young people born in 2006 followed suit by the end of 2024, and they can still use their €100 until December 31, 2025 ( Source: Press release from the German Cultural Council * ).

Young adults actively used the program. By February 2025, approximately 2.8 million cultural offerings with a total value of €53.5 million had been reserved. Books and comics, cinema tickets, and theater and concert tickets were particularly popular. According to an analysis by Die Zeit of about 330,000 young people used the Culture Pass, purchasing nearly 850,000 books, financing almost 480,000 cinema visits, and nearly 160,000 concert or theater visits.

However, usage fell short of expectations in some areas, as the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) recently concluded. Of the 1.5 million eligible users, only about a third actually used the passport. Furthermore, IT costs rose to over €30 million, a figure the Federal Court of Auditors criticized as excessive in a recent report.

The Culture Pass initially faced several challenges. User registration proved to be a hurdle at first, and direct communication with young people was not possible due to privacy concerns. Following criticism, workshops, courses, library cards, and annual museum passes were later added to the program.

Despite these difficulties, many cultural associations view the culture pass positively. The book and film industries actively promoted the pass, seeing it as an opportunity to reach a younger audience. According to MDR an average increase in sales of 800 euros per month.

Political debate and the future of the Culture Pass

The federal government's allocated budget of 100 million euros for the 2023 Culture Pass is insufficient to provide all 750,000 people celebrating their birthday with a 200-euro cultural credit

Olaf Zimmermann predicted

The current controversy surrounding the funding instrument is intensifying after the Federal Court of Auditors declared that the federal government lacks the constitutional authority to finance this project * . Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer (independent) took this assessment seriously and consequently sees little chance of reviving the program. *

“We will henceforth intensify other projects promoting culture for young people,”

Weimer told the FAZ . Since its introduction, expenditures had exceeded €100 million, with IT costs alone rising to over €30 million. Furthermore, usage fell short of the expectations of the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.

This decision, however, has met with fierce criticism. The Green Party describes the end of the Culture Pass as a "grave mistake ," while the German Publishers and Booksellers Association speaks of a "sad signal for culture and education ." The managing director of the Reading Foundation, Sabine Uehlein, demands instead:

We need to invest more in children, youth and education, not less.”.

Originally, former Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth had even hoped to expand the funding project across Europe and to cooperate more closely with France * . Whether this wish will now be realized in some other form remains to be seen.

Inconclusive argumentation by the Minister of State for Culture and feared domino effect

The German Cultural Council sees the Federal Court of Auditors' statement that the federal government has no jurisdiction and that cultural funding is a matter for the individual states as more serious and potentially has implications beyond the Culture Pass. This objection overlooks the fact that the Culture Pass can and should contribute to achieving equal living conditions.

Furthermore, the Culture Pass also aims to support businesses in the cultural and creative industries. The Culture Pass is also an instrument of economic development, an area in which the federal government undoubtedly has jurisdiction. It should also be noted that the €100 currently available to 18-year-olds will induce further expenditures, the German Cultural Council added.

This seems more than logical to us. After all, anyone who has shopped in a bookstore, received good advice, and perhaps even discovered a new passion for reading is very likely to return. In this sense, the Culture Pass can certainly be seen as an easily accessible introduction to cultural offerings for young people and, ideally, be rewarded with a lifelong affinity for cultural activities.

The press release continues:

Furthermore, it should not be forgotten that the federal government has a competence by virtue of the nature of the matter, which is the case with cross-border projects or pilot projects.

Should Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer follow the Federal Court of Auditors' reasoning and question the federal government's authority to fund the Culture Pass, this could trigger a domino effect and jeopardize other federal cultural funding initiatives. For example, the question is repeatedly raised regarding the Federal Cultural Funds whether supporting artists is not actually solely the responsibility of the individual states. Funding programs such as "Youth Remembers" and others could also be at risk. The fact that Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer intends to launch a separate program for young people is equally unsettling. Does the Federal Court of Auditors' fundamental criticism then no longer carry any weight?

Our conclusion

Although the Culture Pass has undoubtedly reached young people with cultural offerings since its introduction in 2023, its continued existence is now on shaky ground. In fact, around 330,000 young people have used the program, purchasing 850,000 books and financing almost 480,000 cinema visits and 160,000 concert or theater performances. Nevertheless, the fact remains that only about a third of eligible young people have actually taken advantage of the offer.

However, the constitutional concerns raised by the Federal Court of Auditors outweigh the program's successes to date. Consequently, Minister of State for Culture Weimer sees little chance of its continuation and is instead announcing other funding programs for young people. The high IT costs, exceeding €30 million, in total expenditures of more than €100 million, were a major factor in the critical assessment.

The widespread rejection of this decision by cultural associations, the German Publishers and Booksellers Association, and the Reading Foundation, however, shows that the Culture Passport, despite its weaknesses, is seen as an important instrument for the cultural participation of young people. Especially in times of declining reading skills, as the latest PISA study demonstrates, the end of the program appears to many to send the wrong message.

The debate surrounding the Culture Pass ultimately raises fundamental questions: How much does Germany value the cultural education of its youth? What alternatives can be developed to continue inspiring young people with culture? And last but not least: How can constitutional hurdles be overcome in such projects? And are there efforts at the state level to continue the project?.

The answers to these questions will significantly shape Germany's cultural landscape in the coming years.

The fact is: the high initial expenditures, particularly for IT infrastructure, have already been made, and the figures show that the program is being used by young people. Abandoning the project would mean simply writing off the 100 million euros already spent, instead of seeing it as a seed investment for a long-term cultural development tool that is also an investment in our cultural and creative industries. In our opinion, ending the Culture Pass would be wrong in two respects

Frequently asked questions about the Culture Pass answered quickly

Q1. How long is the Culture Pass valid for the year 2006?

The culture pass for those born in 2006 is valid until December 31, 2025. Young people have until this date to use their €100 budget for cultural activities.

Q2. Will the Culture Pass continue to exist in the future?

The future of the cultural pass is currently uncertain. The Federal Court of Auditors has raised constitutional concerns, and Minister of State for Culture Weimer sees little chance of its continuation. Instead, alternative funding programs for young people are being announced.

Q3. Which cultural offerings can be used with the budget?

The Culture Pass allows access to various cultural offerings, including concerts, cinema visits, theatre performances, museum admissions, and the purchase of books, CDs, or musical instruments. However, large online platforms like Amazon are excluded.

Q4. How many young people have used it so far?

By February 2025, approximately 330,000 young people had used the Culture Pass. This involved reserving around 2.8 million cultural offerings with a total value of 53.5 million euros, including 850,000 books, almost 480,000 cinema visits, and nearly 160,000 concert or theatre visits.

Q5. Why is the Culture Pass being criticized?

The cultural pass has been criticized because its use fell short of expectations, with only about a third of eligible individuals taking advantage of it. Furthermore, IT costs rose to over €30 million, which is considered excessive. The Federal Court of Auditors has also raised constitutional concerns regarding its financing.

Joachim Rodriguez y Romero

Owner and Managing Director of Kunstplaza . Publicist, editor, and passionate blogger in the fields of art, design, and creativity since 2011. Graduated with a degree in web design from university (2008). Further developed creative techniques through courses in freehand drawing, expressive painting, and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market gained through years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with key players and institutions in the arts and culture sector.

www.kunstplaza.de