Per capita investment in culture in Catalonia currently stands at €124/person, while the European average is €210/person, an amount we should aspire to reach. Moreover, since the dawn of self-government, cultural policy in Catalonia has centred on supporting the formation of cultural infrastructure geared to the creations and productions of traditional artistic sectors (music, dance, theatre, visual arts and cinema), and on funding the construction of relevant cultural venues to disseminate this type of artistic production. This need to establish basic artistic infrastructure, removed from the realm of education and learning, and the continued shortfall in resources for culture have led to the focus being more on the objects of culture rather than its subjects. We now need to gear efforts – and resources – to participation of citizens in culture, assuring equitable access and boosting opportunities for personal development and training. The Catalan Ministry of Culture accounts for 0.65% of the entire budget of the Government of Catalonia, whereas its counterpart in France accounts for 2.5% and in Portugal the figure is 1.8%. The 50% drop in the budget for culture of the Government of Catalonia from 2009 to the present time has led to a number of lines of support to cultural creation, production and promotion being withdrawn. In order to reach the equivalent sum of €210/person, cultural budgets and policies must be coordinated between the Government of Catalonia, provincial councils and local authorities under the umbrella of an effective cultural commonwealth.
Catalunya 2022
RESET: Call to reactivate Catalonia
ACTION 1.1