Spain/ 4.2 Specific policy issues and debates  

4.2.1 Conceptual issues of policies for the arts

The promotion of culture by encouraging artistic creation has been one of the strategic aims of government throughout the democratic period. This relevance, referred in many policy discourses, has been translated, though not always at desirable levels, in budget allocations. The performing arts and music is the art sector to benefit most from central and regional administrations, and, after cultural heritage, is one of the main areas of cultural intervention (see chapter 6.2.3).

At state level, the National Institute of Performing Arts and Music (INAEM) is responsible for supporting the music and performing arts and establishing the strategic areas of intervention. Its main priorities for the coming four years include: increasing demand, particularly strategic at the present time; strengthening of collaboration and participation of cultural institutions and sectors, as well as the implementation of a new organisational and management model that takes into account the territorial organisation of the country.

The aim of increasing demand, a priority also of the previous government, has had unremarkable results so far. Among the initiatives that the new government aims to implement are: to increase its presence in the media, on the Internet and in social networks; improvement of arts education in school curricula; to encourage collaboration between universities and large cultural centres; to establish plans for the promotion of performing arts and music among children and young people and the use of new funding mechanisms such as sponsorship or clubs for consumption and, in general, the promotion of public-private collaboration.

The strengthening of institutional cooperation will involve the exchange of productions in the regions, as well as the improvement of dialogue with municipalities, so that all levels of administration will collaborate to meet the financial commitments made with companies in the sector. To this end, the government will promote a network of circulation and marketing of theatre, circus, music and dance, with the intention that cultural companies can perform their productions beyond their regions of origin, correcting territorial imbalances and providing more quality to cultural programming at all levels of government.

Regarding organisational issues, the creation of the State Council for Performing Arts and Music (497/2010 Royal Decree) has been one of the major changes in structures supporting the arts. This new body knows, in a formal and institutional manner, requests and proposals from different sectors of music, theatre, dance and circus, as well as from local and regional governments, and contributes to the setting of priorities for the cultural policy in this area (see chapter 5.3.2). The new government sees the Council as one of the fundamental instruments for achieving communication and cultural cooperation among the different actors.

During the last two years, the INAEM has also supported the development of comprehensive plans of action, such as the General Plan for Theatre (http://www.mcu.es/artesEscenicas/docs/Plan_Generaldel_Teatro_rev2011.pdf), published in 2007 and revised in 2011, the General Plan for Dance 2010-2014 (http://www.danza.es/descargas/pgd08.pdf), approved in November 2009, and the General Plan for Circus 2012-2015 (http://www.mcu.es/artesEscenicas/docs/PlanGeneraldelCirco.pdf), approved in November 2011. All of the plans have been the result of reflection and participation of the performing arts sector in the analysis of the situation, the assessment of needs and the establishment of strategic lines for public policies.

In terms of stimulating the creation and consumption of art, the INAEM launched in 2010 the first edition of Dance Tour on Stage and, in 2011, the programme GPS - Turn by Halls, which aims to provide artists with access to concert tours beyond their regions. The government seeks to expand this programme abroad in the current term. Also in the field of artistic creation, the INAEM has promoted the approval of the new statutes of the National Dance Company (CUL/1993/2010 Order), the National Ballet (CUL/3065/2010 Order), the National Classical Theatre Company (CUL/3355/2010 Order), the Zarzuela Theatre (CUL/451/2011Order), the National Drama Centre (CUL/2039/2011Order) and the National Music Dissemination Centre (CUL/3359/2011 Order). All of them represent a profound change in the performing arts and music sectors. Among the objectives of the new institutions are the impetus for educational initiatives which facilitate the understanding of their artistic programming and the development of campaigns aimed at attracting new audiences.

See also chapter 7.3.

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