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The Daily PollFIANNA FÁIL SENATOR Malcolm Byrne has proposed a €200 culture card be given to Irish residents on their 18th birthday that can be used for live cultural events, to incentivise young people to attend events such as theatre, exhibitions, concerts and music festivals.
Byrne has proposed that in the first year of operation, the card be offered to young people aged between 18 and 24 in recognition of the impact of Covid-19 on cultural events.
The measure would cost €83 million in the first year and then €12 million for each subsequent year, according to figures for the Oireachtas Parliamentary Budget Office.
Similar ‘culture cards’ exist within other EU member states, including Italy, France, and Spain.
So today we’re asking: Do you think culture cards for young people are a good idea?
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€83m to start & €12m a year after that. If they have this sort of money to throw around, surely there are better schemes that could benefit from this income. Food banks, feeding the homeless, food for schools which other European countries all ready have in place. In reality, all this will do is not broaden the minds of the youths but put money through the doors of the event holders. So, in fact, it’s a backdoor way of putting money into the Arts & Culture
@MIchael Costello: 100 per cent state subside = price increase..unintended consequence we all pay more
@MIchael Costello: Those ‘Arts & Culture’ vultures.
@MIchael Costello: Ya curmudgeonly dirty aul’ philistine. I guess living in Ballygobackwards, all you can do is moan about initiatives that benefit people like this
@MIchael Costello: As ever it’s always an either/or scenario for some people. It can never be a multi-layered approach to complex issues. There are many isolated angry and marginalised youths. Maybe some experience in more open-minded less hostile environments will open a few hearts and minds. Community and creativity along with a release valve have been absolutely invaluable for so many. Myself included. It’s easy to get the upvotes for anything that criticises culture and the arts. We’ve got our own issues from Catholic Ireland as well as ones we’ve imported from too much gorging on English tabloids.
The arts contribute so much to society. Many areas and avenues are struggling. Night venues are down to a percentage of their heyday in the 90s. They are an Important space for people to meet, share ideas and dream of better things.
Isolation and radicalisation are happening at a furious pace. See all the angry and embittered young men and the deluge of horrifying misogyny that’s become depressingly trendy. Encouraging people to get out and expand their horizons won’t change everyone’s life but these things have enormous power to change peoples lives and attitudes. We shouldn’t underestimate them.
Of course the basics like housing need to be taken care of. But looking after people and society reaches far beyond giving them somewhere to live. Beliefs, perspectives and self-worth bleed into so many areas. From economic activity to crime.
A relatively small amount of money encouraging young people to explore some of our avenues for expression, release and change seems like a very reasonable idea, especially in an era where it’s all too easy to get lost behind a screen.
@MIchael Costello: It’s a tiny fraction of the government’s overall budget which is in excess of €100,000 million.
@SerotoninWars: your point’s are very well made. But in reality, do you actually think that the majority of the 18 year old would use this card as it is meant to be used. Think of the majority of 18 year old who don’t live near a major town/city. The expenses they would have to pay using their free entry to culture card would be mad. Now, if the card could be used in their local towns and villages to help them purchase a musical instrument, dancing shoes or even sporting equipment so they can keep the Irish traditions in music and sport going , I would be happy with this
@UK Hurling Bloke: i wish I understood what you just wrote. But let me ask you this question: If you asked all the 17 year old in your area who are turning 18 , would they prefer a €200 culture card to broaden their cultural awareness or a €200 gift card that then can spend on anything , how may will put their hands up for €200 culture card. I would be interested to see the results on this if the Journal did a poll .
@MIchael Costello: These are good points. It’s still at the proposal stage so hopefully, they will aim to make it as inclusive and practical as possible. You are right that not everyone lives in built-up areas. The one thing I would say is that despite the difficulties and the fact that a lot of the media attention gets focused on the built-up areas, there are lots of arts centres, performance spaces, festivals and so on happening outside of the large urban areas. Tapping into these would be great too. it doesn’t have to be purely based in the big cities. But I agree that some efforts to ensure it doesn’t end up being a city thing would go a long way.
@SerotoninWars: “Night venues are down to a percentage of their heyday in the 90s” because culture is ever-evolving and changing, your idea of culture is not the next man’s and definitely not that of your average 18 year old. They don’t necessarily want what you think they should! I love your idea of a small amount of money incidentally. We definitely define things differently.
@Chutes: Where did I say otherwise? I have repeatedly mentioned a broad range of things that cover many different types of cultural events people might be into. I never once said it was exhaustive or that people have to be into everything on offer. And I never said anything about having to be into the same things I might have been. That’s the whole point. Allow them the opportunity to find out what they like. As an aside, I’ve been to many many sold-out shows over the last few years. People still like loud music and performances of many descriptions late at night. Late-night culture isn’t dead and buried.
It’s very fashionable around here with the usual grumps to savage the youth. They’re all awful according to some around here while they were absolute beacons of wisdom in their youth, of course. The youth are facing a whole new set of challenges that many here never experienced growing up. The country is rich right now. Throwing some money into something that can help on so many fronts isn’t a bad idea or a waste. It’s investing in the future. In comparison to the amount of money culture brings into the country, it’s not a bad idea to try and include the next generation and give them a bit of encouragement while supporting existing venues, centres, festivals and arts workers. It’s not like the money just disappears.
Unfortunately, some of us love to shoot down fresh ideas in this country. We’ll moan and complain that we don’t do innovative forward-thinking things like other countries and then moan endlessly when someone comes up with something in that vein. This is a win-win for everyone. I hope they ignore the nay-sayers and it goes ahead.
The youth need affordable homes, to build a stable life on, not culture cards.
@Alex: “my little turd”, “Clueless Joe the Hoe”?
Why so abusive?
@9QRixo8H: dunno what’s wrong with me today but I agree with you
@Basildon Joe: Nobody EVER “needs a good hiding”!
@Ger Whelan: the main opposition party has run itself down by its own actions.
@Chutes: You are correct, a good shoeing will do
@Chutes: According to him we were lucky we didn’t have our stadium smashed up yesterday because of some pantomime booing. Violence seems to be his go to approach for most things.
@Chutes: thr majority of his posts are abusive.
@Ger Whelan:
Same people complaining yet same people voting FF/FG…..expecting change but changing nothing
@Basildon Joe: You’d do absolutely nothing. Just a little mouth piece and that’s all you’ll ever be. Big man Joe
@Ger Whelan: buying votes
@Ger Whelan:I agree 100 percent people have stop voting ff/fg they have wrecked our country . Sinn fein should be giving chance.
@Chutes: Why not?
I’m curious as to why the comments section for the Nina Carberry article was closed. Closing the comments, particularly for an article that leans heavily in favor of the subject, might limit healthy debate and public discourse. What is the reason behind this decision, and what are the potential risks for readers replying to this article?
@Tony Lynch: A valid point indeed Tony!
@Tony Lynch: it would allow possible negative sentiment towards a government policy / a government minister and a candidate this close to an election … this type of behaviour is Verboten
@Emmet Doyle: She’s an MEP, not a candidate or a minister. It’s a puff piece but facts matter.
@Tony Lynch:
Females in Irish politics have being attracting a lot of Irish men child’s who spend to much time on line in the mammy’s box room.
Best not set them off.
@Tony Lynch: Her views on removing the passenger cap at Dublin Airport shows she has no regard for the families in the flight path or the planning laws. Different rules for different parties. Nina’s views have nothing to do with the fact that the leading advocate for removing the passenger cap, is one of the biggest & most influential people in Horse Racing.
@H Woo: As opposed to you, staunch defender of women’s rights sitting in your mansion, self made man that you are?
@Chutes: She’s a FG MEP so the original point holds true.
@Declan Doherty: She’s not a “government policy / a government minister and a candidate”, that’s all I argued with, the sentiment is generally correct though imo, didn’t argue that part.
@John Mc Dermott:
It was the Airport that gave jobs and prosperty to the north side around the airport. Plus developers in the 80s build massive private relativey cheap estates (compered to the southside) which allowed young couples put a roof over their head. The fact it was near an International airport was secondary in their decision to buy. The people who are complaining are the posh areas like Malahide and Portmarknock and the one off hasendas build in the flight paths, who do not depend on the airport for a job. But I do not condone the Ryanair fighter pilots taken shortcuts to line up with the runways fast.
@Chutes:
Mummy is that you?
@Tony Lynch: and the same authors earlier article on SF had comments open.
Once in place they will then become compulsory, and there will be Cultural Officers hired to enforce the “Culture”.
But seemingly many people reading this article are happy to comply with the idea.
@Garry Coll: can I recommend you take less of whatever you’re on?
@Garry Coll: Go out and get some fresh air for yourself, like a good man…
@Garry Coll: slippery slope fallacy, really?
@Name:
Amazing how irritable a Communist can get when you scratch one.
@honey badger:
OK Commie.
@9QRixo8H:
OK Commie.
@Garry Coll: Eejit.
@Garry Coll: Get off ‘X’, it’s rotting ur mind!!
@Garry Coll:
Loser is such a ugly word and brings up all sorts of negative conutations.
Better to use the word “Communist”
@Chutes:
This isn’t X.
@Garry Coll: Genius!
@Chutes:
Not really, just observantn
@Garry Coll: Your paranoid ramblings are good for a laugh if nothing else.
@Garry Coll: In fairness, you are clearly all over X. Just uninstall it and see how you feel after a while
@Brendan O’Brien:
Laugh when you’re in the re-education centre you cultural heretic.
@Mick Duvanny:
Didn’t realise I had a stalker.
Find something useful to do other than wank overy comments weirdo.
They’ll be on donedeal within 15 minutes
@Kush OMeara: I wonder what the discount will be.
Are we enforcing culture now or just feeding money from the State to those who would hold themselves up as representing ‘culture’, whatever the fk that is?
The young will create, do create, their own ideas of culture, that’s how culture works unless I’m mistaken.
This is just more nonsense from politicians so bereft of ideas that they simply import the ideas of others, which seems to be all our lot are capable of ngl!
@Chutes:
Defund the artist industry.
Make them get a job and enjoy their hobbies at the weekend like the rest of us.
The days of King’s sucking up to bards and artists so they don’t compose a song or poem that ridicules them is long gone.
@H Woo: Malcolm.byrne@oireachtas.ie
@Chutes: No, just supporting it. Same as we support farmers, tech and a gazillion other areas. Culture doesn’t just happen. You have to show initiative for sure but like everything it requires a little help. It’s not like it doesn’t pay its dues. Irish creativity has bolstered everything from our international profile to tourism. If we have left a much bigger cultural mark than our population size suggests it should have, much of this is down to our artists, poets, musicians, film makers and so on.These benefits run alongside the invaluable side-effects like better mental health, sense of community and the powerful work that can make our lives richer and more enjoyable. Why not support them? Even if you despise or resent individual artists because you don’t believe people should get to enjoy their work, the wider and long term benefits for all are obvious. I don’t think many will want to visit a country with no cultural lifeblood.
@SerotoninWars: Cards such as mooted don’t create culture though they would effectively define it to exist within the limits of what the cards would pay for.
Culture is ever-evolving and as such does ‘just happen’.
@Chutes: Part of creating culture is introducing people to it in the first place. At 18 no one has the life experience to fully grasp all the possibilities of what’s out there Some might seem very remote and out of grasp. Many won’t even be aware of how much they might enjoy certain areas. It’s simply an introduction. A bit of help and encouragement to get out and explore, and meet some new people with ideas and ways of working and living you might not have come across.
‘Culture is ever-evolving and as such does ‘just happen’.
This simply isn’t true. It happens in context and as part of the ongoing discussion and reaction to not only life but the work that has come before it. Musicians, writers, painters or whatever discipline don’t just magically come up with these things themselves. They are reliant on the creative languages they have learned, the tools available, the way people have treated and engaged with them in the past and often as a reaction or rebellion against what came before. It doesn’t just magically appear completely uninspired and detached from the world around it. Part of that world is live events where people can see and hear what’s going on and what’s on offer.
Of course, you are not going to cover every discipline and avenue on offer over the course of a few events! It’s a start though. It’s much easier to pick holes than to see the potential and positivity in things. Every single human endeavour is flawed or can have holes picked in it, on some level. No harm in trying though.
While a good thing in principle, there are so many other issues screaming out for help, Mental Health as an example
@RIP: and you think culture cannot have a beneficial effect on peoples well being? What about music for example?
Draft every 18year old into the army for two years and teach them a few basic life skills.
Great idea. But, I would suggest that this be funded by TD’s and Senators foregoing their annually salary increases, rather than increasing taxation on PAYE workers.
I think it’s a great idea. I’d have grabbed one of these with both hands when I was younger. There’s no downside to being introduced to “theatre, exhibitions, concerts and music festivals”.
@honey badger: it would allow possible negative sentiment towards a government policy / a government minister and a candidate this close to an election … this type of behaviour is Verboten
@honey badger: these events are not hidden away… any subsidy by government is a cue for n increase in price of said good
@honey badger: do it without the funding if you were really interested in it.
Will just result in higher Ticketmaster prices. Shouldn’t include major musical acts.
A better idea would be to use that money to build affordable housing for those 18-24 year olds so they don’t have to worry about paying rent in their 80s and 90s.
The Senator for Brainfarts, first up was Ireland hosting the Olympics, now it’s Culture Cards, this from a man who once said, “I worry we are entering an era of Trumpian Politics”. Where do FF get these guys, young people want reasonable Rents & to be able to afford their own home, not Culture Cards. Young people cannot even access Mental Health services as places like CAMHS are falling apart & no funding, yet Malcolm Byrne wants to spend €38 Million straight off on Culture Cards & a couple of Billion on hosting the Olympics. This man is out on his own in terms of nonsensical ideas, pure deflection of course & anything to be in the headlines & get elected.
Who’s going to pay for all that goes into a culture card?
@Seriously Really: Not you on welfare for sure.
@Seriously Really: your dole money will not be affected
@Fintan Pox: Pox indeed!
Perhaps if people were not struggling to keep their heads afloat they could afford to enjoy these culture events themselves. This is not necessary and is a smoke screen.
More corporate subsidies disguised as free money for the average person.
Ticket prices would immediately increase for everybody. The people that end up with the extra money in their pockets are Ticketmaster shareholders.
Complete waste of time and money.
Culture? Your having a giraffe. The kids will use this money to buy drugs. A great incentive for the Black Market economy.
@Basildon Joe: I doubt the idea is to give cash. Worth noting that lifetime prevalence of illicit drug use varies widely across Europe, but for example, about 20-30% of people aged 15-64 in many countries have tried an illegal drug, most commonly cannabis.
I guess that’s ‘cultural’!
@Basildon Joe: Clueless Joe the Hoe strike again.
@Alex: you have never lived a life you plank. Don’t be such a si.
@Basildon Joe: Why bother, rise above the childish name calling!
@Chutes: indeed my friend. He is trying to antagonise Joe.
@Basildon Joe: worked well right? Joe the Hoe is getting mad. Looks like your dad never spalled you enough or slapped you way too much you lost half of your braincells.
What about people over the age of 24? Do they not celebrate culture or go to culture events? A €200 card will be re sold to ppl that will use it. Invest in the arts by all means but giving people cards will not solve the issue.
Tinfoil supplies in Ireland will be seriously dented by this article.
@Sun Rise:
That made me chuckle… Well done !
Are they for real?
@The measure would cost €83 million in the first year and then €12 million for each subsequent year”. Money that can go toward the homeless, the mental health crisis, improving our roads, our infrastructure, I could go and on and on. Maybe the taxpayer can get a mandatory bonus each year.
Forward thinking from Fianna Fail, I honestly don’t know what we’d do without them
@Fintan Pox: Too much time on your hands was the Bertie Kisser in to see you
Ha, youngsters. There’d be more culture in a tub of yogurt!
Not in favour of ‘giveaways’, money would be better spent creating new infrastructure for us in the arts. Most (if not all young people) in the creative arts have dreams that cannot be realised on this rock. We should be asking why and building for a future that can sustain the ambition of youth. Unfortunately it takes too long, tenure of office is 4–8 years, so it’s handouts, as it always has been.
@Thesaltyurchin:
Get a job, and enjoy your hobbies at the weekend.
@H Woo: Luckily I made my ‘hobbies’ into my job many years ago. Good advice tho
Whilst in theory it may be a good idea, and much more information is needed, music festivals should certainly be excluded. Paying for Electric Picnic tickets of the country’s teenagers so the can get rat faced for 3 days does not lend itself to the promotion of culture. I also note all the agenda driven driveler’s who were pssing all over the SF arts policy article are on here, like the good little shills they are, heaping praise on proposed government policy.. Quelle Suprise.
I think 83 million could be put to far better use. Maybe spend it on kids that have special needs. That would seem to be a better use of our money.
@karen delaney: It’d be better than nothing but those kids need way more.
It depends. How many free pints of Guinness would you get with the card? Or would it just depend on how many it takes to get you locked?
No, not a good idea, spend this money to help people who are struggling to make ends meet,
@Ned: 83 million won’t go far. Spread it round evenly and it’s 16.30 each. Spread it round the poorest 1% and it would be 1630 each which would be a short term boost soon spent and gone.
On the scale of any of our real problems this is pocket change.
But it is bread and circuses almost literally.
@Steve O’Hara-Smith: well it would better than giving it to the young one who mostly don’t give a fiddlers ……about culture
A good idea in principle but I think it’s a bit out of touch with that generation. Banning mobile phone use for under 16s and educate them on the dangers of social media etc because By the time they turn 18 they are extremely dependent on their mobile and just won’t have the interest.
Just my opinion though so don’t slate me
Talk about cheap publicity. SF come out with a ‘joke’ arts policy one day and FF come out with an even bigger ‘joke’ the next day. It just shows you what they will do to get votes and to he ll with the vulnerable people.
I hope people have the cop on to vote for the needs of people i.e Health, Poverty and Societal issues rather than profit and self interest, like an extra E5 p.w. in the budget.
He was a very good TD, I am sure the voting public will elect him again
If it means more support for small venues and local musicians, actors and other performance artists I’m all for it. For all too many their only regular venue is the street, talent needs more good places to grow.
If all it means is that more kids get to see the latest autotune star from a furlong or so in a sports stadium and the rest of us get more traffic chaos. Then no thanks.
@SerotoninWars: Couldn’t reply in the thread for some reason but cards such as mooted don’t create culture though they would effectively define it to exist within the limits of what the cards would pay for.
Culture is ever-evolving and as such does ‘just happen’.
Go to the theatre in your tuxedo then back to sleep under the bridge after…..really removed from reality altogether
Culture is in the eye of the beholder. Can said card be used to take a Ryan air flight?
The calibre in and joining FF m must have Dev rolling in the grave. “Celebrities” and other self-servers all over the place.
What is culture and is a free culture card needed?
Good Grief. Vote FF.
have your say