«20 ans 100 francs», when the doors of culture open to young people

Le Regard Libre N° 40 - Loris S. Musumeci and Jonas Follonier

Talking youth? They answer culture! The «20 ans 100 francs» team is extending its offer by giving young people in five cantons, up to the age of 21, the chance to enjoy the vast majority of cultural events for just one hundred francs.

The project was launched in 2010 by Lorenzo Malaguerra, director of the Théâtre du Crochetan in Monthey, Valais. Initially, the subscription only concerned his theater. But the idea was revolutionary, even a little crazy, and the stage director was soon joined by the director of Sion's Petithéâtre. Already in 2012, sixty establishments were involved in the project.

Now it's time to export the idea. The «20 years 100 francs» is not just another cultural passport. It's not just an artificial way of filling theaters or extending a helping hand to young people. It's about real access to culture, which takes place in the community. the region, that which lifts the soul and educates. Of course, festivals and pop concerts are not excluded from the offer, which would be a mistake, but plays performed in the most prestigious theaters complement and enrich it.

Anyone who, until now, considered the Théâtre de Valère to be inaccessible, for example, can now access the plays performed there for 100 francs. And, as you may have guessed, that same 100 francs opens the door to many other cultural venues. For the moment, these are only in Valais. But from September this year, the cantons of Fribourg, Neuchâtel, Jura and Berne will be joining in.

Let the young rejoice. Even if Switzerland is already very committed to making culture accessible to young and old alike, it needs dreamers, rooted in a place, who one day decide to commit themselves to the cause. She has found dreamers who don't confine themselves to dreams, but extend into reality. A reality which, without being totally deplorable, leaves a bitter taste when she sees some of her young people losing interest in music, which makes people better, in theater, which purifies, in painting, which softens.

Not everything has changed for young people in Valais, who have been able to benefit from the season ticket for the past eight years. Nevertheless, some have been touched. By a play they attended without any particular expectations. By a concert which made them discover that they could cry while listening to Beethoven's Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 4, Op. 120. An exhibition featuring the paintings of Impressionist painters soothed those who were suffocating at the mere sight of glossy, omnipresent digital images. 

At last, other young people will be able to experience the same adventures and discoveries. And the halls will be filled with an audience with a little less white hair and a little less long dresses. Society is like that, it expects something concrete. To live a little better, to hope a little more, to see a little further, to open doors. For just 100 francs. For the whole of culture.

IN OUR PAPER EDITION: OUR QUESTIONS TO LORENZO MALAGUERRA, President of 20 ans 100 francs. To order a copy of this issue: Le Regard Libre N°40.

Write to the authors:
loris.musumeci@leregardlibre.com
jonas.follonier@leregardlibre.com

Photo credit: © www.abo-20-100.ch