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Spain shuts down its galleries: a historic protest for fair VAT for art
From February 2nd to 7th, contemporary art galleries throughout Spain will remain closed. This is not a seasonal break or a changeover of exhibitions: it is an unprecedented act of protest in the sector. More than one hundred spaces have decided to suspend their public activity to denounce what they consider a critical situation: the government's refusal to apply a reduced VAT rate to the sale of works of art, as is already the case in most European countries.
The protest has been organized by the Consortium of Contemporary Art Galleries and has the support of regional associations, including LaVAC, which represents galleries in the Valencian Community. The gesture is symbolic, but powerful: for one week, these galleries will cease to be free cultural spaces, open to all citizens. "In this way, the largest museum in Spain is being shut down," the official statement notes.
Idoia Fernández, president of the Consortium, estimates that more than 200 galleries will not reopen their doors starting this Monday. "Closing is a very painful decision, our last resort. We hope it will help, because we are in a critical situation," she says, visibly worried about the lack of response from the government. "The worst part is the lack of response. Many well-intentioned meetings, but it seems they have decided to do nothing," she remarks about the Ministries of Culture and Finance.
At the heart of the conflict is the 21% VAT levied on the sale of works of art in Spain. This rate contrasts sharply with the reduced rates applied in neighboring countries: Italy (5%), France (5.5%), Germany (7%), Portugal (6%), and Belgium (6%). European Directive 2022/542 allowed member states to adopt this reduced rate and set a deadline of January 1, 2025, but Spain has not yet implemented it.
Galleries argue that this tax disparity puts them at a competitive disadvantage, limits the internationalization of artists, and threatens the sustainability of an already precarious sector. While other cultural areas—such as film, music, and performing arts—enjoy a reduced VAT rate, the visual arts continue to be treated as a luxury product.
Although galleries will reopen on February 9, the conflict is far from resolved. The sector warns that this is only the first step and does not rule out further action if there is no progress before key events such as ARCO, which will be held from March 4 to 8 in Madrid. For now, the country's largest free museum is closing its doors for a week to remind everyone that, without fair conditions, culture can also be extinguished.
