Culture Minister Li Yuan (李遠) is making good on the promise he made upon first taking office to extend the age bracket for cultural points from ages 16 to 22 to ages 13 to 22. This Tuesday, he announced that a pilot program for 13 to 15-year-olds will be launched in January 2025.
Previously, only 16 to 22-year-olds were able to receive culture points, which can be used for cultural activities such as watching Taiwanese movies and performances, buying books, visiting museums, and taking part in DIY classes. Starting January 1, 13 to 15-year-olds will receive 600 culture points to be used for the same purpose. The points are valid until December 31, 2025.
Li said this policy is aimed at fostering a love of the arts as early as possible in young adults’ lives. He reflected on his experiences with his own grandson, who by the age of 10 began to lose interest in the illustrated books they read together in favor of tablets and other electronic products. Li said he hopes that by expanding the Culture Points program, the next generation will cultivate a greater sense of creativity, humanism, and cultural literacy and identity.
Culture points for the year 2025 will be available for collection through the Culture Points app starting at 8 a.m. on the first day of the calendar year. Taiwanese citizens and foreign nationals holding alien resident certificates who were born between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2012 can receive 600 points, while those born between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2009 can receive 1,200. Any eligible young persons who do not have smartphones can also contact customer service directly to receive their points.