Accessible pricing

Accessible pricing will increase the financial opportunities to participate. Free or low-cost admission can also attract new visitors and groups of visitors. For some, free admission may be the only way to participate. Various ancillary services, such as shops and cafés, should also take economic accessibility into account, e.g. by offering affordable and also very low-priced products.

Free access for an assistant and interpreter

The entrance ticket for an assistant and interpreter of a person with a disability should always be free of charge. This could be, for example, an assistant for a person with reduced mobility, a guide for a person with visual impairment or an instructor for a person with intellectual disability. It is important to note that the need for an assistant is not always obvious. An interpreter can be, for example, a sign language interpreter, a written interpreter or a speech interpreter.

Some people who need practical help to participate do not have the right to so-called personal assistance under the Disability Services Act. For accessibility reasons, it would be important that in such cases, for example, a ticket for a person with a memory impairment or a support person for a person with mental disabilities should also be free of charge.

Proof of need for assistance

A cultural site cannot require a client to prove their need for an assistant. No specific certificate can be required, as there is no universal card or other certificate that covers everyone who needs it.

Providing ticket is free of charge for the assistant is a reasonable accommodation made by the cultural site. The Non-Discrimination Act (1325/2014) and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (27/2016) oblige reasonable accommodation. The Non-Discrimination Ombudsman considers it essential that a person provides a credible explanation of their need for an accommodation due to a disability. This could be, for example, a self-report by the person, which, objectively speaking, does not give rise to any reason to doubt the need for an accommodation.

According to the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman, a person with a disability cannot be required to provide a specific certificate proving the need for an assistant, which would enable them to obtain a ticket free of charge for their assistant. According to the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman, neither the Non-Discrimination Act nor the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities set any prescriptive form for how a person with a disability can prove their need for an accommodation. 

Dates or events free of charge for all

Many cultural organisations offer regular times or specific events with free admission. Offering everyone the opportunity to attend a particular time or event free of charge lowers the financial threshold for participation. The regularity of free dates and times also helps visitors to plan their participation in the longer term. 

Price groups and discounts

Admission fees can be differentiated for students, the unemployed, pensioners, military personnel, conscripts, children and young people, for example. Families should be given a family ticket. It is important to remember that family tickets must not include any restrictions on the gender of the parents. The family ticket should also take into account families with many children and single-parent families.

If possible, it is always advisable to offer free admission to children under 18. This contributes to the implementation of children's cultural rights, which are part of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Many events have also begun to attract people, for example over 65, in particular by offering them free admission.

Admission fees can also be graduated according to ability to pay. For example, there may be an alternative higher admission fee for people who feel they are able to pay, and a much lower fee for people who feel they are less able to pay.

Discounts should be available for different groups participating together, including small groups. If a group discount requires a large group, for example 8-10 people, it may exclude visitors who are not comfortable in a large group.

You could also try tiering prices according to when you buy your ticket. For example, many cultural operators offer a range of 'last-minute' tickets, which can be purchased at a very low price, even an hour before the performance.

Many regions in Finland have a culture friend/culture companion model. This model often includes free admission for a volunteer cultural friend/companion and free or reduced admission for the person attending with the friend/companion. It is worth finding out if there is a similar activity in your area that you could join. 

Always free of charge or at a significantly reduced rate for certain groups

The Kaikukortti has been developed as a permanent solution to remove the barrier caused by ticket prices. If your municipality does not yet have Kaikukortti activities or a similar system, it is worth collaborating with various social and health service providers as well as organizations promoting well-being and health. This way, you can offer participation opportunities for free or at significantly reduced prices for certain groups, or for anyone in a very tight financial situation

Free tickets

If possible, some tickets should be offered as free tickets through various social and health service providers to be distributed further. This way, it is possible to reach individuals who have to limit their participation due to tight financial situations. You can contact, for example, the adult social services in your welfare area or the outreach youth work in your municipality. Additionally, it is worth familiarizing yourself with other local organizations, such as associations and congregations, that work with low-income individuals.

Free tickets can also be communicated directly to customers, allowing those in need to obtain a free ticket directly without intermediaries.

Pay What You Can Day

One way to increase pricing accessibility is to organize a Pay What You Can Day or event, where visitors can decide whether to pay for their ticket and how much. Even if organizing a Pay What You Can Day or event seems challenging, it is worth trying this approach at least once. This way, you gain experience on how visitors react!

Pricing checklist:

• Always free entry for a disabled person's assistant and interpreter
• Free entry for everyone on certain days or at certain times
• Free entry to specific programs
• Discounts for students, unemployed individuals, pensioners, conscripts, and those in non-military service.
• Family ticket, i.e., a discount for families
• Free entry for children
• Free entry for those over 65
• Pricing based on ability to pay
• Discount for groups, including small groups
• Significant discount, for example, an hour before the performance, known as a "last-minute ticket"
• If there is a cultural companion program or similar in your area, free entry for the cultural companion and a discount or free entry for the participant with the cultural companion
• Kaikukortti or equivalent
• Offering free tickets through various social and health service providers to be distributed further
• Offering free tickets directly to customers
• Pay What You Can Day or event
• Free or affordable transportation to the venue
• Free guided tours and translations
• Free audio guide for visually impaired individuals and free loanable aids such as wheelchairs, strollers, and walking sticks
• Free coffee

It is advisable to compile an overview of free offerings, for example, on the website, so that visitors can easily access this information!