TURNING 18 is always either an exciting or absolutely terrifying time, depending upon the life you lead in general, but it's rarely 'just another birthday' or devoid of emotions – and, if you live in Spain and it's your 18th this year, the ministry of culture wants to help you celebrate it with €400 to spend on entertainment and arts, as we reported earlier this week.
British music legend Elton John, 75 - Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in Middlesex, UK - has a high-profile fan in Spain (photo: Conclusion.com.ar)
Brand-new adults will be stocking up with free books, CDs and DVDs, going to music festivals, museums, plays and the cinema without paying a cent – except on popcorn – provided they register by October 10.
The minister behind the move – aimed at boosting a wider industry sorely battered by Covid lockdowns and restrictions and, now, consumer-price inflation – is Miquel Iceta, who has made it very clear where his own Bono Cultural would be channelled if he was 18 again.
“I'd have spent it on the entire works of Elton John,” Iceta, 61, reveals.
He could use up to €100 on physical CDs or, if he prefers 'retro' supports, cassettes and vinyl, and up to another €100 on downloads of Elton's music.
“Also, I'd have spent it on more books.”
Half the voucher, or €200, has to be used to fund events and experiences rather than physical or digital products, meaning the British veteran singer-songwriter would have to go on tour in Spain for an 18-year-old Iceta's complete Bono Cultural to become an 'Elton voucher'.
In the absence of a live show by the Candle in the Wind legend, Iceta would blow this allowance on 'going to the theatre even more often'.
At least now Santa Claus knows what to pop into the culture minister's stocking this Christmas.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com