Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Sept. 18 that the municipal identification cards set to be issued starting in 2015 will come with discounted or free admission to 33 cultural institutions throughout the city. These institutions include the Lincoln Center, the Bronx Zoo and the American Museum of Natural History. While all New Yorkers are eligible to apply, the cards are intended for undocumented immigrants seeking valid identification. The cards will grant immigrant families a chance to engage in cultural experiences they otherwise would not have considered or been able to afford.

Poverty has a profound impact on cultural participation. The opportunities offered by these cards will promote an interest in education and the arts — something often absent from communities where the basic need to survive may override intellectual or creative pursuits. For low-income immigrants, admission fees and ticket prices can prove too great a financial burden. A lack of cultural education results in a lack of faith in one’s intellect, discouraging involvement in traditionally intellectual activities.

Institutions such as museums are often associated with wealthy elites who have the leisure time to enjoy them. People from low-income backgrounds may feel a lack of belonging at the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the New York City Ballet. Even at museums with only a recommended admission price, the expectation to pay the full price can be intimidating. These social barriers paint a motif of exclusivity and privilege within institutions intending to be democratic. Everyone should be able to reap the benefits of participation in cultural activities, and not only for the purpose of cultivating a socially conscious public. Inclusion can, for instance, lead to improved mental health and higher life satisfaction.

When the nation seems more concerned with maximizing economic returns than anything else, de Blasio should be lauded for his devotion to the less quantifiable pursuit of cultural capital. New York is brimming with culture — many of the discounted institutions are internationally renowned. Making these highly esteemed establishments more accessible makes the dialogue surrounding them truly democratic. The ID cards indicate to undocumented immigrants and poor New Yorkers that their opinions matter. Their presence and views are valuable additions to the city’s dialogue. De Blasio’s ID card initiative is a move toward curtailing the racial and class segregation that is so pronounced in New York City. It is an affirmation that his administration’s mission to reduce inequality transcends mere rhetoric.

A version of this article appeared in the Tuesday, Sept. 30 print edition. Email Zahra Haque at [email protected].