The legal framework affecting visual arts and crafts in Spain has largely developed through broader cultural and heritage legislation rather than through a specific state law devoted exclusively to the sector.
A key reference is Law 16/1985 on Spanish Historical Heritage, which introduced measures that, while primarily aimed at heritage protection, also have implications for artistic creation and the visual arts sector. Among these, the law allows for the settlement of certain tax obligations through the transfer of artworks and cultural assets to public authorities, thereby contributing to the enrichment of public collections.
The same legal framework has also supported investment mechanisms in heritage and cultural promotion. The so-called “1% cultural programme”, originally linked to public investment in infrastructure, has undergone successive expansions—first to 1.5% and more recently to 2% through Law 14/2021, which amended earlier measures adopted during the COVID-19 period. While this programme has primarily financed conservation and restoration projects, it also allocates a proportion of resources to artistic creation, cultural promotion and support for the visual arts sector.
At the regional level, more specific policy frameworks have been developed. Autonomous Communities have exercised their cultural competences to create instruments tailored to local artistic ecosystems. A notable example is Catalonia, where Decree 60/2020, amended in 2023, established the Public System of Visual Arts Facilities, a coordinated network aimed at supporting the production, dissemination and territorial organisation of contemporary visual arts.
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