Italy's new culture bonus sees drastic drop in beneficiaries and spending

The new Italian culture bonus, which replaced the 18App bonus, has led to a sharp decline in beneficiaries and cultural spending. In 2024, only 118,000 young people received the bonus compared to 458,000 the previous year, while spending dropped to €108 million from the €190 million allocated. The Meloni government replaced the universal €500 bonus with two means-tested and merit-based cards: the Carta della Cultura Giovani (income-limited) and the Carta del Merito (for top graduates under 19). These can be combined for up to €1,000. Critics, especially cultural operators, blame the complex application process and restrictive criteria for the collapse. The article by Stefano Monti on Artribune questions the policy's stability and its impact on the cultural sector, noting that businesses had relied on the previous structural measure for long-term planning. Monti argues that the government's abrupt change undermines trust and investment in culture, calling for a more consistent public commitment.