The visual arts have traditionally been one of the main recipients of public support for creativity in Spain. Public resources are allocated to exhibitions, artistic production and the acquisition of artworks through state, regional and local museums and cultural institutions. Regional and local authorities also organise competitions, awards and grant schemes supporting both emerging and established artists. At the international level, the Ministry of Culture, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, promotes the international presence of Spanish artists through participation in biennials, exhibitions, residency programmes and other cultural events abroad.
In the audiovisual sector, support is primarily channelled through the Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts (ICAA), which administers grants for film production, distribution, exhibition and international promotion. Recent policies have sought to strengthen the competitiveness of the Spanish audiovisual sector, support independent production and encourage international co-productions, in line with broader strategies for the development of cultural and creative industries.
The performing arts and music sector benefits from a wide range of support measures managed by the National Institute for the Performing Arts and Music (INAEM). These include grants for creation, production, touring and dissemination across theatre, dance, music and circus. INAEM also supports artistic mobility, residencies and professional development initiatives.
One of the most significant programmes is Platea, implemented jointly with the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces, which facilitates the circulation of performing arts productions through municipal venues across the country. More broadly, support for the sector, traditionally centred on theatre, has progressively expanded to include dance, circus and popular music through a combination of funding schemes and sectoral initiatives, including touring circuits supported by networks such as the Red de Teatros Alternativos [Network of Alternative Theatres].
In the field of live music, programmes such as Girando Por Salas (GPS) [project GPS – Turn by Halls], organised by the INAEM in collaboration with sector organisations, aim to support emerging artists by facilitating concert tours outside their Autonomous Community, thereby contributing to their professionalisation and to the strengthening of live music circuits.
At the regional and local levels, support for creators is provided through grant schemes, artist residencies, touring networks, cultural facilities and cultural industry development programmes. In some Autonomous Communities, support for artistic creation is also linked to the promotion of regional languages and cultural identities.
Professional development constitutes another important area of support. Public institutions offer specialised training programmes for artists, cultural managers and creative professionals. Examples include the Escuela Pública de Formación Cultural de Andalucía [Andalusian Public School of Cultural Training], which provides training in artistic and cultural professions, and the Servei de Desenvolupament Empresarial [Business Development Service] of Catalonia, which supports the professionalisation and business development of cultural and creative enterprises.
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