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Artists and galleries demand a fairer cultural VAT from the Spanish government
The Consortium of Contemporary Art Galleries, together with more than 1,000 Spanish visual artists, has demanded this Wednesday, December 11, that the Government of Spain reduce the VAT applied to the sale of works of art, antiques and collectibles, placing it at figures similar to those of European countries such as France, Italy, Germany or Portugal.
During the reading of the manifesto “Visual Artists of Spain Sign Cultural VAT NOW” at the Círculo de Bellas Artes in Madrid, Idoia Fernández, president of the Consortium, denounced that the sector is “suffocating” under the high tax burden, which is currently double that of other European Union countries. “In a particularly difficult economic and cultural context, this difference is proving extraordinarily detrimental to contemporary art in Spain,” Fernández emphasized.
The manifesto, also read by artists such as Jordi Teixidor of Otto, Teresa Solar Abboud, and Marc Domènech, warns that the lack of a reduced VAT rate limits the professionalization, internationalization, and competitiveness of Spanish galleries, and penalizes artists and the country's cultural heritage. According to the signatories, this situation contradicts the principles of cultural equity that should guide any government policy.
Among those present at the reading were Manuel Segade, director of the Reina Sofía National Museum, and Maribel López Zambrana, director of the ARCO International Contemporary Art Fair, who both pointed out the lack of social cohesion and the scant institutional recognition that contemporary art faces. Fernández added that the sector is often perceived as a “dispensable luxury,” when in reality it should be protected and promoted by society.
The manifesto also highlights the inequality compared to other cultural disciplines, such as music, film, and the performing arts, whose professionals benefit from reduced VAT rates when selling their work through distributors. Among the signatories are artists who have represented Spain at the Venice Biennale, as well as recipients of the National and Velázquez Prizes for Visual Arts, such as Ignasi Aballí, Luis Gordillo, Marisa González, and Francesc Torres.
Some gallery representatives have proposed strong measures to pressure the government. Luis Valverde, director of the Espacio Mínimo gallery, suggested limiting galleries' cultural activities, charging admission, or restricting visits to appointments only, in order to highlight their role as cultural spaces. Pep Anton Clua, of Galería Silvestre, supported the proposal and urged galleries to stop collaborating with museums, allowing the institutions themselves to exert pressure on the ministries.
The Director General of Cultural Heritage and Fine Arts, Ángeles Albert, responded that it is inaccurate to say the Ministry of Culture is not taking action, although the consortium claims the official response has been practically “absolute silence.” Albert confirmed that meetings have been held with the Ministry of Finance, where it was reported that a proposal on the matter had already been drafted.
Wednesday's manifesto reinforces a petition that was already presented less than a year ago and calls for the immediate transposition of the European directive that would allow a reduced VAT rate between 5% and 8%, in line with other Member States, and warns that if this measure is not applied, the development of contemporary Spanish art will continue to suffer serious and tangible consequences.
