(ffm) Lord Mayor Peter Feldmann and Head of the Department of Culture Ina Hartwig presented a concept proposal for the "Culture and Leisure Ticket" during a press conference on Wednesday, June 26. The new ticket will provide free admission to all museums and the zoo in the Main metropolis for Frankfurt's children and young people, as well as for those who go to daycare or school in the city.
Lord Mayor Peter Feldmann says: "The ticket should reach all Frankfurt's children and young people - that's why it has to be as easy as possible to apply for. The proposal of culture department head Ina Hartwig therefore has my full support." At the city's museums, which already offer free admission for children, the numbers of young visitors have increased by more than 50 percent, he said. "That shows: The demand is there. The cultural institutions of our city should in principle be open to all children and young people. No one should have to consider whether they go or not."
With the current proposal, the head of the culture department is implementing a resolution of the coalition, he said. "My goal of making Frankfurt one of the most family-friendly cities in Germany is a big step closer with this concept. The culture and leisure ticket joins free daycare centers and free admission to swimming pools," Mayor Feldmann added.
Culture department head Ina Hartwig says: "With my demand to extend free admission for children and young people under 18 to non-municipal cultural institutions and the zoo, we are on the home stretch. We are specifically introducing young people to our cultural institutions. With this offer, we also want to appeal to families who otherwise rarely or never visit museums and get them excited about culture. The free entry for children and young people to the city's museums, which we introduced in 2017, was already a huge success. We saw a 50 per cent increase in U18 visits." The application process should be simple and unbureaucratic, the head of culture also stressed: "As soon as it's available, just order online and then off to the zoo or museum!"
It is planned that the ticket in credit card format can be ordered online. For Frankfurt schoolchildren, daycare children and young people from households with a monthly income below 4500 euros net, it should be free to order and remain valid until the age of 18. For all other families, a moderate price of 19 euros per year is proposed - this price corresponds roughly to a visit to the zoo or museum per quarter at reduced admission. The entrance fees for ticket holders will be paid by the city of Frankfurt.
As Feldmann and Hartwig announced regarding the further schedule, the concept is before the magistrate members for voting. After a decision by the city council, the technical implementation can take place in the museums and the zoo. By using the proven infrastructures, for example the already existing Museumsufercard, time and costs could be saved. "We are in the starting blocks," said the culture department.
With the culture and leisure ticket, another work order from the "Bad Nauheim resolutions" of December 2018 will be implemented. The culture department had been commissioned on 28 February this year by the city council to create a concrete concept. In the following months, the department had examined various variants for the technical implementation and the financial processing of the admission reimbursement for the non-municipal houses.
