In January 2019, Italy’s Ministry of Culture confirmed that the Culture Bonus for 18-year-olds would continue but with significant restrictions. Despite initial criticism from Culture Minister Bonisoli, who had called the programme “useless,” the bonus was retained ahead of the 2019 budget, though now limited exclusively to book purchases.
Scope of the New Restrictions
The 2019 Culture Bonus eliminated access to cinema, theatre, music, and museum visits—all previously covered categories. The Ministry based this narrowing on historical usage data, which showed that the vast majority of 18-year-olds had used the funds to purchase books for school or university rather than other cultural activities. The bonus would now apply only to textbooks and educational texts.
Consumer advocacy organisation Federconsumatori reported that in 2018 alone, school textbooks cost families an average of €456.90 per student, not including other school supplies. The targeted use of the Culture Bonus was therefore positioned as a practical response to genuine educational expenses.
The Debate Over Cultural Access
The restriction proved controversial. Critics argued that narrowing the bonus contradicted its original purpose as an incentive for young people to engage with all forms of culture—from exhibitions to concerts. The reframing of the programme as a cost-mitigation tool for school expenses, rather than a cultural stimulus, represented a fundamental shift in policy direction.
Regardless of the debate, the 2019 measure proceeded with book purchasing as its sole permitted use, marking a departure from the broader cultural access model of previous years.
Frequently asked questions
What could the 2019 Culture Bonus be used for?
The 2019 Culture Bonus could only be used to purchase books and school texts. Cinema, theatre, music, and museum visits were no longer covered.
Why was the bonus narrowed to books?
The Ministry of Culture based the restriction on historical data showing that most 18-year-olds had used the bonus primarily for school and university textbooks rather than other cultural activities.
How much did school textbooks cost Italian families in 2018?
According to Federconsumatori, school textbooks cost an average of €456.90 per student in 2018, excluding other school supplies.
Sources
- S1 — Settis, Salvatore. Italia S.p.A.. L'assalto al patrimonio culturale. Einaudi, 2002. ISBN 978-88-06-16973-2.
- S2 — Casarin, Francesco. Il marketing dei musei e delle istituzioni culturali. Il Mulino, 2019. ISBN 978-88-15-28514-0.
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