What is the culture pass? Everything you need to know about the program

The Culture Pass is an initiative of the French government aimed at facilitating access to culture for young people aged 15 to 20.

This system takes the form of a free and geolocated mobile application, allowing young people to discover and book cultural offers near them.

Registered young people have access to a financial credit, the amount of which varies according to their age, to access various cultural activities. Launched in 2019, this system is part of a policy to democratize access to culture.

With the Culture Pass, young people can explore a variety of cultural experiences, thereby diversifying their practices and supporting the French cultural sector.

The Culture Pass: definition and objectives

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Designed to facilitate access to culture for young people, the Culture Pass is a national program that offers a credit dedicated to cultural activities. This system revolves around two essential components: an individual part aimed directly at young people and a collective part reserved for educational institutions.

The Culture Pass application serves as the main interface of the system, allowing users to easily discover and book various cultural offers. The main objectives of the Culture Pass are to democratize access to culture, diversify the cultural practices of young people, and support the French cultural sector.

Since January 2022, as part of the policy for developing artistic and cultural education, the system also allows teachers to book school trips for classes from fourth grade to high school, for both public and private institutions under contract. This is part of a collaboration between the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of National Education.

Who can benefit from the Culture Pass?

From the age of 15, young people have access to cultural benefits through the Culture Pass. This system is designed to encourage the discovery and exploration of various cultural activities.

For young people aged 15 to 17

Young people aged 15 to 17 can use the Culture Pass to fund activities such as trips to the cinema, museum visits, or concerts. The credit is available until the day before their 21st birthday, allowing them to plan their outings in advance.

For 18-year-olds

Young people who turn 18 receive a credit of €150 to fund their cultural activities. This amount can be used for physical activities or online digital offers. Purchases can be made in one or multiple installments, depending on individual needs and desires.

The Culture Pass represents a significant opportunity for young adults to develop their cultural autonomy. Young people can use this credit to explore new forms of artistic expression and enrich their cultural experience.

The individual part of the Culture Pass

With the Culture Pass, young people can enjoy a personalized cultural experience through the individual part. This dimension allows them to choose from a variety of activities and cultural outings based on their interests.

How to register and use the application

To benefit from the individual part of the Culture Pass, it is necessary to download the dedicated application on your smartphone or computer and register. During registration, you must scan and attach the required supporting documents, such as an identity card and proof of residence.

Once your registration is validated, your account is automatically credited with the amount corresponding to your age. You can then explore the available digital and physical offers nearby thanks to the geolocation feature of the application.

• Registration is done exclusively via the official application, available for free.
• Several supporting documents are required, including a valid identity card and proof of residence.
• Young people living with others must provide additional documents, such as proof of residence from the host.
• Booking and payment for activities are done directly through the application.

The collective part of the Culture Pass

The collective part of the Culture Pass plays a crucial role in the artistic and cultural education of young people. It allows educational institutions to offer enriching projects and activities to their students.

Within the framework of the collective Culture Pass, the amounts allocated vary according to the school level. Here is a breakdown of the funds, along with information on where to spend cultural vouchers:

Amounts allocated by school level

• Primary schools receive a specific amount to fund artistic and cultural projects, thus promoting artistic engagement.
• Middle and high schools also benefit from funding to organize cultural activities.

These funds are intended to support educational projects that are part of the students' artistic and cultural education journey.

Role of teachers and institutions

Teachers play a central role in implementing the collective Culture Pass. They select and organize artistic education activities for their students.

Each institution appoints a Culture referent who coordinates projects and serves as the primary contact for the system. Teachers can book activities through a dedicated platform.

This system allows for a collective approach to culture, complementing the individual approach offered to young people. Projects funded by the collective Culture Pass must meet specific educational objectives while respecting an appropriate leisure budget.

What cultural offers are available?

The Culture Pass system includes a wide range of offers for young people. Beneficiaries can choose from a variety of cultural experiences, including museum visits, shows, concerts, and artistic workshops.

These offers are provided by partner cultural actors who must meet specific criteria to be eligible. Users can book digital offers online or tickets for cultural events.

Limits and restrictions

There are certain limits governing the use of the Culture Pass. For example, online digital offers are restricted for minors to ensure appropriate content.

The cultural actors must ensure that their offers comply with the criteria of the system. Users can suggest new offers by directly contacting the cultural actors.

Evolution of the Culture Pass since its creation

Since its inception, the Culture Pass has undergone several significant changes. These changes aim to optimize its impact and improve access to culture for young people.

The decree of February 27, 2025, made significant modifications to the Culture Pass. Young people aged 18 no longer benefit from €300 usable over 2 years, but rather €150 usable over 3 years. This evolution allows for a more extended use over time, particularly thanks to the Culture Pass discounts that facilitate access to various offers.

Recent changes

The recent changes made to the Culture Pass are as follows:

• Young people aged 17 now receive €50, up from €30 previously, thereby enhancing access to culture just before reaching adulthood.
• Young people aged 15 and 16 no longer receive any annual credit.
• These changes reflect a continuous adjustment of the system to optimize its impact and financial sustainability.

The evolution of the Culture Pass is also marked by the changes of November 2021, which introduced the collective part, bringing structural changes to the system.

In summary, the Culture Pass continues to evolve to better meet the needs of young people and cultural actors.

Assessment and results of the Culture Pass

The Culture Pass has achieved remarkable results since its creation. By the end of 2021, the system already claimed 800,000 users.

The figures are impressive: more than 1.5 million mangas sold in 6 months after the generalization of the Culture Pass on May 21, 2021, and over 7.5 million books sold in 2022.

Statistics show that the Culture Pass has a significant impact on the cultural practices of young people aged 15 to 18. In 2024, book purchases accounted for 43% of purchases, followed by cinema at 24% and music at 19%.

• Over one million registered users at the beginning of 2022.
• More than 6 million reservations made.
• A network of over 11,000 referenced cultural partners.

These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the Culture Pass in promoting culture among young people. The diversity of offers and the ease of use of the application contribute to its success.

Conclusion

The Culture Pass has become a key element of the French cultural policy aimed at young people. With its dual dimension, the Culture Pass offers a complementary approach between personal choices and structured artistic education. The constant evolutions of the system reflect a willingness to adapt to the needs of young people and the realities of the cultural sector.

The quantitative success of the Culture Pass is undeniable, with millions of users and reservations. The impact of the Culture Pass on the artistic education of young people is part of a broader policy of cultural awareness. Despite some criticism regarding its use, the Culture Pass constitutes a significant lever for introducing young people to the diversity of cultural practices and supporting the sector after difficult periods.

In short, the Culture Pass represents an ambitious initiative to democratize access to culture for young people aged 15 to 18 in France, thereby fostering their artistic education and openness to cultural outings and offers.