Starting today, Oct. 1, and until noon next Oct. 31, it is possible to submit an application to access the “Culture Card,” the digital grant made available by the Ministry of Culture for the purchase of books. The initiative, managed by the Center for Books and Reading with technical support from PagoPA, CONSAP and SOGEI, aims to combat educational and cultural poverty by offering concrete support to low-income families.
The measure, launched a few days ago, provides for the allocation of a card in digital format, worth 100 euros, for each year between 2020 and 2024. It will be available to households, whether Italian or foreign residents in Italy, with an ISEE not exceeding 15 thousand euros. Access to the contribution is therefore not tied to citizenship, but only to residence and compliance with the established economic threshold.
The procedure for obtaining the Culture Card is carried out entirely online and in a simplified mode. In fact, interested families will have to apply through theIO App, the public services application managed by PagoPA. To access it, it will be necessary to authenticate using the SPID digital identity or the Electronic Identity Card (CIE). There are no other application methods: the procedure via app is the only channel allowed.
Once the application is submitted, the system will process the rankings, one for each year of reference. The allocation of the card will follow two main criteria: the declared ISEE, in ascending order, and the chronology of application submission. In other words, priority will be given to households with the lowest economic indicator and, if the condition is the same, to those who applied earlier than others. However, the measure remains subject to the availability of resources: grants will be awarded until funds are exhausted.
The outcome of the application will be notified directly on the IO App. Beneficiaries will be credited with the card within the “Portfolio” section of the app and from that moment it will be available for use. The period of validity is set at 12 months from issuance, within which the amount must be spent.
The bonus can be used exclusively for the purchase of books, whether in print or digital format, as long as they have an ISBN code, the identification number that ensures their traceability and recognizability in the publishing market. Books can be purchased at bookstores and affiliated outlets, lists of which will be available and constantly updated on a dedicated platform. The stated goal is to encourage the spread of reading as a tool for personal and cultural growth, while supporting the publishing sector and participating bookstores.
The Culture Card is part of initiatives to support less affluent families and aims to provide an opportunity for access to books as a fundamental asset for education and social growth. The measure also has a symbolic value, as it recognizes reading’s role as a tool for emancipation and inclusion. For this reason, the promoters stressed that the purpose is not only to provide immediate economic support, but also to help reduce the cultural gap that still marks many areas of the country.
The initiative, which was created as part of the interventions provided by the Ministry of Culture, joins other forms of support for reading, such as the Teacher’s Card or the Culture Bonus for 18-year-olds, but is distinguished by the fact that it is aimed at entire households and not at individuals. In addition, the decision to set the ISEE limit at 15,000 euros aims to intercept those families that, although they fall within the parameters of economic hardship, often do not have the ability to allocate resources to the purchase of books.
All information about the Culture Card, including conditions of participation and technical details, can be found on the official App IO website at ioapp.it/carta-della-cultura. Further details are also available on the Center for Books and Reading’s portal, cepell.it/carta-della-cultura.
|
|
| Culture Card, the 100-euro book bonus, launches today: here's how to apply for it |
Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.
