Local government issues 10,000 cultural credit cards with subsidies for people

The Wenhui Cards, a real-name cultural credit card that allows users to enjoy discounts in bookstores, museums and other cultural and artistic venues, were issued by Tianjin Beifang Performing Arts Group with the support of the city’s publicity office, finance bureau, bureau of culture, broadcasting, film and television, and tourism bureau. The Group’s ticketing subsidiary joined hands with 11 municipal-level art troupes, as well as major cultural and tourism enterprises to issue the real-name membership cards in 500-CNY denominations. Local residents only need to pay 100 CNY for it, since the government has provided a subsidy of 400 CNY for each card.

The Wenhui Cards can be used in those 11 artistic venues and troupes including the Tianjin People’s Art Theater, Tianjin Song and Dance Theater, Tianjin Hebei Bangzi Opera Theater, Tianjin Pingju Opera Theater, Tianjin Peking Opera Theater, Tianjin Youth Peking Opera Troupe, Tianjin Peking Opera Theater, Tianjin Symphony Orchestra, Tianjin Quyi Troupe, Tianjin Acrobatics Troupe, and Tianjin Children’s Art Troupe at a discount ranging from 30 percent to 60 percent. For example, the ticket for a concert is 100 CNY, the card user should only pay 50 CNY at a 50 percent discount, and there is 40 CNY government subsidy, which is included in 50 CNY. Actually, he pays 10 CNY for a 100-CNY ticket for the concert.

The cards combine benefiting the people with cultivating the cultural market, which not only help enhance the prosperity of the show business, promote people’s consumption on culture and arts, but also urge the theaters and troupes to create literary and artistic works according to market demand and audience’ need. These cards provide a platform between drama and audience and the issuance is an innovative measure to further promote the prosperity of Tianjin’s drama.

In 2015, Tianjin allocated 24 million CNY to subsidize 60,000 Wenhui Cards. The issuance of cards brought great prosperity to the show business, and the theaters were used more frequently than ever before. By the end of January, 2016, the 11 theaters and troupes had organized 1,131 performances with an average 3.36 performances per day, up 90.2 year-on-year; about 400,000 people had gone to enjoy the performances.

In addition, the Wenhui Cards provide an open platform for some private performance agencies or troupes from outside Tianjin to conduct marketing and promotions, enhancing the development of the show business. The cards also offer discounts in cinemas, farmstays and bookstores, which boost the consumption on entertainment and local cultural industry.

This year’s Wenhui Cards were issued starting from March 10. People will have more options, since there are cards tailored for various groups, such as cards for people from specific district or county, students’ cards and charity cards. About 100,000 Wenhui Cards will be issued in 2015 and 2016. More than 1,500 performances will be organized this year.