Spain/ 4.2 Recent policy issues and debates  

4.2.9 Heritage issues and policies

The challenges facing the current heritage policy are basically three, namely:

• updating national, regional and local policies (which is now underway);
• developing plans to foster comprehension and validation of cultural heritage sites and properties as a tool to promote local cultural identity; and
• differentiating, particularly at the local level, the intrinsic aims of conservation and protection and the extrinsic economic significance vis-à-vis tourism, within an overall regional policy. This objective is designed to improve the articulation of subsidiarity in determining heritage policies.

Two other issues relate to the current debate about Spain's cultural properties and how they are defined as such. This is part of an ongoing discussion about the term cultural property being extended to new fields such as contemporary history and industrial properties.

After the 2004 elections, one of the goals of the new Ministry of Culture was to improve the management of historical heritage, and to allow its integration in the knowledge society. The application of digital technologies and, above all, the availability of cultural heritage works to the general public via the Internet were, according to the Minister, the most democratic and economical way to disseminate culture. The Ministry is currently compiling a large database with images of museum collections, which will be generally available and which will be incorporated in the State Museum Digital Network. During 2007, the Spanish Ministry of Culture worked to develop the Portal of Spanish Archives, a web-based database for the diffusion of national historical documentary heritage, and the Virtual Library of Bibliographical Heritage, that will allow users to consult a wide range of online documents that form part of Spain's bibliographical heritage. The Virtual Library of Historical Press is another major digitisation project, which participates in European and Local projects. It will soon be accessible through these projects, as is the Virtual Library of Bibliographical Heritage project, or projects like Galiciana, the Library of Galicia, or Bivaldi, the Valencian Digital Library, among others.

Moreover, in 2007, the Ministry of Culture launched the "National Plan for the Protection of Underwater Archaeological Heritage", which outlines basic guidelines for an effective protection policy. In November 2008, the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology (ARQUE) opened in Cartagena (Murcia). This is a pivotal institution in the Plan and seeks to become an international benchmark for renewal in the museology of underwater archaeology. At present, the Historical Heritage Council is working on a Green Paper that analyses the current status of underwater archaeology in Spain and proposes actions to foster effective protection.

The Hispanic Portuguese Centre of Heritage Studies, which was presented in July 2009 by the Ministry of Culture, will be a place of reference for the protection, conservation, research and promotion of Spanish and Portuguese cultural heritage. Based on the exchange of knowledge and experiences and the construction of joint projects, the Centre will pay particular attention to the heritage of areas on the border with Portugal, and will promote a cross-border network of centres.

In 2009, the Institute of Cultural Heritage of Spain, under the Directorate General of Fine Arts and Cultural Assets of the Ministry of Culture, published the journal Cultural Heritage of Spain. This is a space for reflection and debate on various research, conservation, restoration and valorisation projects. The same year, the Ministry of Culture established the National Cultural Journalism Award to recognise the work of the professional journalists and institutions that promote cultural activities and enrich the cultural heritage of Spain.

In late 2009, the Historical Heritage Council will review the state of knowledge and actions related to intangible cultural heritage in the autonomous regions. It will then draft a text on intervention criteria for the preservation of this heritage and propose the creation of a "National Plan for Intangible Heritage" to the regional governments.

The Ministries of Culture, Industry, Tourism and Trade, and Foreign Affairs and Cooperation have agreed to develop a "Plan for the Promotion of Cultural Tourism 2009-2012". The aim of this plan is to promote the destination "Cultural Spain", and to establish four action areas: museums; theatre, music and dance festivals; the promotion of thematic cultural routes; and language tourism promotion.

The Ministry of Culture has launched the "Permanent Laboratory on Museum Visitors" that seeks to obtain relevant knowledge about visitors to the state museums. The aim is to improve museum management through research, training and communication.

Finally, it should be noted that the Council of Ministers adopted a Royal Decree (see  chapter 5.3.3) on 31 July 2009 to establish a Network of Museums in Spain. This will allow coordination and cooperation between different public administrations and institutions with responsibility in this matter.

For more information, see
European Heritage Network: Country profile Spain