When the State of Illinois launched an app that gave all 18-year-olds in the state $250 to spend on literature, music, exhibits, stage plays, or even art supplies or classes, City of Peoria authorities got the shock of their life when most of the area’s teens did not rush out and buy Verdi on vinyl or sign up for Irish Clogmasters 101: Tappin’ Away Those Blues. The State of Illinois gave teens $250 for basically any kind of entertainment they wanted, and Peoria teens bought weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed.
Of course they did.
Any Peoria teen can access the Culture Card on their smartphone and browse a guide of more than 6,000 associated merchants and businesses.
Said Illinois Arts Council chairperson Amil Victorino, ‘The Culture Card initiative is an attempt to open young people’s eyes to cultural offerings they would otherwise not come in contact with, and to encourage them to explore high-brow art,’ as well as some of the finest home-grown bud this side of the Mississippi.
Although the app does have default restrictions designed to force the whipper-snappers to spend the free money on a variety of different cultural experiences, Peoria youth quickly figured out how to retag their Culture Credit on the same platform, then cash out their accounts.
From cash in hand to the local dealer was a hop skip and a pipe away.
Photo by Chase Fade on Unsplash