Moldova's cultural voucher: A boost for young culture enthusiasts
Moldova launched a "Cultural Voucher" program in 2022 to encourage young people to engage with culture. This digital voucher, worth 1,000 Lei, can be used to buy books, attend concerts, theatre performances, or movies.
However, low usage, particularly due to the requirement of an electronic signature, has hindered its full potential. The Ministry of Culture is considering expanding the program to pensioners and simplifying the process. Some young people have used the voucher to purchase books.
The "Cultural Voucher" is a non-refundable 1,000 Lei digital ticket that allows holders to attend concerts, theatre performances, movies, or buy books. Students Lilian Munteanu and Mihai Golovaciuc are among those who have benefited. They used their vouchers to buy general culture books. "I used my voucher two years ago to buy books. I was one of the first to take advantage of this opportunity. I created a mobile signature and waited two months for the project to start," said Munteanu. "I turned 18 last November and immediately created a mobile signature. I used the voucher to buy four books in March and April," said Golovaciuc.
Ministry of Culture spokesperson Liuba Lupașco noted that only 5% of eligible young people have used the voucher. She suggested simplifying the process and reviewing the list of service providers. "Most beneficiaries have bought books, likely due to the widespread availability of bookstores. However, there's also interest in shows, concerts, and films," she added.
The national "Cultural Voucher" program, launched in November 2022, offers a 1,000 Lei digital ticket for cultural activities. To use the voucher, young people aged 18 and older need a digital signature. The Ministry of Culture is considering expanding the program to pensioners.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
