Music and the performing arts have long constituted a central area of public cultural policy in Spain. At the state level, the institutional framework has traditionally centred on the National Institute for the Performing Arts and Music (INAEM), created in 1985 and consolidated by Royal Decree 565/1985. INAEM remains responsible for the promotion of theatre, music, dance and circus, as well as for the management of major national artistic institutions.
The legal basis of INAEM originates in Article 87.3 of Law 50/1984 on the General State Budget for 1985, while its structure and functions were further defined by Royal Decree 2491/1996. This framework has evolved over time through successive administrative reforms reflecting changing priorities in cultural policy and sectoral needs.
The most recent reform was introduced through Royal Decree 1028/2025, which modifies the organisational structure and functions of INAEM and forms part of a broader restructuring of the Ministry of Culture. This reform establishes a clearer distinction between policy design and operational management, transferring strategic functions to the Directorate-General for Performing Arts and Music, while INAEM continues to focus on programme management, production and implementation.
This reorganisation represents the first phase of a broader modernisation process aimed at improving administrative efficiency and strengthening sectoral specialisation. At the same time, it maintains an integrated approach to the performing arts value chain. The reform seeks to address key policy priorities, including the promotion of artistic creation, the consolidation of stable exhibition circuits, audience development and the internationalisation of Spanish performing arts. It also responds to longstanding sectoral demands, such as increasing the visibility of dance and recognising circus as a distinct artistic discipline.
Alongside institutional reforms, earlier regulatory developments have sought to enhance participation and transparency. Royal Decree 497/2010 regulates the State Council for the Performing Arts and Music and its sectoral councils (music, theatre, dance and circus), reinforcing the involvement of professional communities in advisory and decision-making processes. In addition, Order CUL/3520/2008, approving the Code of Good Practices for INAEM, introduced principles of transparency, merit-based selection and participation in the governance of public cultural institutions.
Recent reforms linked to the implementation of the Artist’s Statute—particularly Royal Decree-Law 5/2022—have also impacted the performing arts sector by adapting labour and social security frameworks to the specific characteristics of artistic work, thereby affecting professional conditions across the field.
Finally, performing arts policy is shaped by Spain’s decentralised governance system. The Autonomous Communities exercise extensive competences through their own legislation and public agencies. Examples include Law 2/1998 on Music of the Valencian Community, which promotes and coordinates musical activity, and Law 4/2008 establishing the Galician Agency for Cultural Industries (AGADIC), which created a public body dedicated to supporting the performing arts and cultural industries in Galicia. These frameworks illustrate the significant role of regional authorities in fostering performing arts creation, production, distribution, and institutional development.
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