REC Cultural: the new citizen currency offering discounts on culture
The REC Cultural is the new citizen currency to discount the consumption of culture and democratise access to it. The new currency is the cultural version of the REC (real economy currency), a complementary citizen exchange system on a par with the euro, which allows for transactions between people, organisations and commercial establishments which accept it, and which offers special bonuses. A pilot project for the REC Cultural will be established in Sants and Poble-sec from 1 September to 28 February 2023.
The REC Cultural can be used in community centres, shops, training spaces, venues and museums in the two neighbourhoods. During the trial, an overall sum of 200,000 euros will be used to help people in two ways: firstly, 500 families benefitting from social services in the neighbourhoods of Sants and Poble-sec will get a cheque for 200 RECs, and secondly, there will be bonuses for the consumption of culture aimed at all other local residents.
Anybody who registers to use the REC Barcelona app, available on the App Store and Google Play, will be able to exchange euros for RECs and get a bonus of 50% on the amount they have exchanged to spend on culture. So far, fifty establishments have registered to participate with the REC Cultural, including places such as Montjuïc Castle, Caixaforum, the MNAC, bookshops such as La Carbonera, Mamut and La Inexplicable, and venues such as Sinestesia, Meteoro and Laut, a list of establishments which will continue to grow by the day.
The Citizen Culture Office (OCCU) will be offering personalised training sessions on the app, aimed at people who have received the cheque for RECs and who might need assistance in downloading and configuring the app. These sessions are being held on 29, 30, 31 August, and 1, 2 and 5 September, in mornings and afternoons (except for 31 August and 2 September, when only morning sessions will be held).
The initiative is part of the Cultural Rights Plan, the intention being for the pilot project to stimulate consumption, production and access to local culture.
