Through RISE Bookselling, a three-year EU co-funded project run by the European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF), EIBF will publish a research paper investigating culture voucher schemes in four different European countries: Italy, France, Spain and Germany. This paper, to be published on July 10 2023, is the second volume in a series of research papers called Industry Insights. Read more about the Industry Insights research paper on culture vouchers below.
Over the course of almost a decade, several European countries have launched cultural voucher programmes, that is, state-funded measures with the aim of introducing teenagers and young adults to their country’s unique and rich cultural scene, while also supporting cultural and creative industries. These cultural vouchers are physical or digital cards as well as mobile phone apps that are granted to 15- to 18-year-olds with a fixed amount of money to be spent exclusively on cultural goods and activities for a limited amount of time.
Through its network members, EIBF has been made aware of the predominantly positive impacts that these national schemes have had, not only on book sales and increasing footfall of young people in bookshops, but also on reinforcing young people’s reading habits, as well as diversifying their cultural practices. In response to these testimonies, and given the interest from more countries to introduce similar schemes, this Industry Insights paper takes a closer look at said cultural vouchers, their specificities and their impact across four countries where they are already in place: Italy, France, Spain and Germany.
Keep an eye on the RISE Bookselling website where the Industry Insights on culture voucher schemes will be published on 10 July 2023.
What are Industry Insights?
RISE Industry Insights is a series of research papers that investigating priority topics for the bookselling sector. They give insights into key issues, policy reforms and other external initiatives that affect the bookselling sector. In addition, they provide network members with tools to engage with relevant political stakeholders, culture sector professionals and private sector representatives to ensure that their priorities are adequately upheld and supported.
The Industry Insights are produced by Daniel Martín Brennan and Tora Åsling, Policy Advisor and Policy Officer respectively at the European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF).
What is RISE Bookselling?
‘Resilience, Innovation and Sustainability for the Enhancement of Bookselling’, or RISE Bookselling in short, aims to upscale, reinforce and maximise the capacity and resilience of the European bookselling sector. The project helps bookshops innovate and stay up to date with new trends and technologies to ensure their long-term sustainability. This three-year programme is organised by EIBF and co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union.