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Gallerists on a war footing: "Cultural VAT already!"
More than a hundred artists and gallery owners are protesting at the Reina Sofia Museum and other centers to demand a 21% reduction that leaves Spain out of the game compared to the rest of Europe.
More of one hundred of artists, gallery owners and collectors have sat in protest in front of the Equal-Parallel/Guernica-Benghazi replica to demand a reduction in cultural VAT. While in other countries of the European Union taxes do not exceed 7%, Spain maintains a 21% that especially affects art galleries. The Consortium of Gallery Owners has called for demonstrations in several museums to demand dialogue and a tax reduction.
The sector cultural supports this one 21% from from 2012, when the minister of Finance Cristóbal Montoro imposed the increase. It has not been modified since then. Faced with unsuccessful attempts at negotiation and institutional silence, gallery owners demonstrated at the Reina Sofia Museum with chants such as “They are killing us all” and “Cultural VAT already”, surprising visitors.
None administration –including the current one– has applied the directive European from 2022, that allows VAT to be reduced to a minimum of 5% on cultural goods and services. Countries such as Portugal (6%), France (5.5%), Italy (5%) or Germany (7%) have already done so.
Professionals claim that "we are not a luxury industry, we are culture", and denounce commercialization from the art how yes melted one good strictly economic. Many galleries alert that this situation leaves them at a disadvantage against foreign competition and puts the future of the sector at risk.
Last year, some gallery owners turned off their stands as a symbolic protest. This year it is unknown which one will be the action during the Fair International of Art Contemporary of Spain, from March 4 to 8. Without an imminent solution, Spanish galleries face tax differences of up to 16% compared to other countries.
The banners summarized the demand: “No we ask privileges, we ask equality" and “No there There are museums without art, nor a country without heritage.” Protests have also taken place at the CAAC in Seville, the IVAM and the MACBA.
