From October 1, it will be possible to apply for the “Culture Card,” the new tool made available by the Ministry of Culture to support the purchase of books and combat educational poverty. This is an economic contribution worth 100 euros, disbursed in digital format, which can be accessed by households residing in Italy, both Italian and foreign, with an ISEE of less than 15 thousand euros. The measure was implemented through the Center for Books and Reading, with technical management entrusted to PagoPA, CONSAP and SOGEI. The initiative aims to promote access to reading and foster greater cultural inclusion, ensuring that even the most economically fragile families have the opportunity to purchase texts and publishing works.
Applications can be submitted from October 1 for a period of 30 days exclusively through the IO App, the public services application managed by PagoPA. To gain access, it will be necessary to authenticate with SPID or an Electronic Identity Card, tools that are now indispensable for taking advantage of public administration digital services. The application procedure is designed to be quick and secure, minimizing bureaucratic steps.
Each household will be eligible for only one card per annuity, with an amount of 100 euros for each year from 2020 to 2024. The rankings, one for each annuity, will be drawn up on the basis of the reference ISEE indicator, in ascending order, thus starting with households with lower incomes. All things being equal, the chronological order in which applications are submitted will be considered, until the available resources are fully exhausted. Once the application is submitted, the outcome will be communicated directly on the IO App. In case of a positive outcome, the Culture Card will be credited in the “Portfolio” section of the app and will be immediately usable. The beneficiary will have 12 months from the date of issuance to spend the amount.
The card can be used to purchase books, both in print and digital format, provided they have an ISBN code. Thus, publishing products without an ISBN code, such as some magazines or unregistered information materials, are not eligible expenditures. Purchases can be made at affiliated bookstores and outlets, a list of which will be made available on a dedicated platform.
The initiative is part of the Ministry of Culture’s broader effort to promote reading as a tool for individual and collective growth. In Italy, according to recent statistical data, the percentage of readers is still lower than the European average, and the cultural gap is widening in families with low incomes. The Culture Charter therefore aims to reduce this gap, offering concrete support to buy books and promote access to knowledge.
The measure takes on a particularly relevant value when considering the time frame of reference: in fact, the card is planned for each year from 2020 to 2024. This makes it possible to recover an opportunity that, for reasons related to availability of funds and technical organization, had not been made accessible in previous years. Hence, eligible households will be able to benefit from retroactive support, with amounts that can be accumulated year by year where the conditions are met.
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| MiC launches Culture Card: 100 euros to fragile families to buy books |
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