The Canary Islands stand at the leading edge of Spain’s cultural policy, becoming the first region to endorse a Public Cultural System with full cross-party support. The regional assembly approved the bill with 64 votes in favor, launching last April and outlining a plan to align and coordinate public administrations for placing citizenship in culture at the forefront within a year. The government center stands to gain direct access to cultural rights as the primary beneficiary.
Manuela de Armas, the regional advisor overseeing the project, acknowledged the collaborative effort that opened a new horizon after the vote. Citizens must have access to culture, she stated. Culture, on par with health and education, will form a central axis of public discourse and will command at least 2 percent of the regional budget, rising steadily to reach that share by 2030.
Juan Márquez, Deputy Minister of Culture, and Rubén Pérez, Director of Culture, share a moment of celebration after the bill’s approval. The period’s significance is underscored by the formation of a Coordination Commission, the Strategic Action Framework for Canary Islands Culture, and a Network of Cultural Facilities open to the public. These provisions enable people to view exhibitions, cultivate creativity, and engage socially. A Cultural Single Window will simplify procedures across institutions, and a Cultural Research and Analysis Service will enhance transparency through regular reporting, improving cultural administration regionally.
Representatives at the ceremony included Juan Márquez and Rubén Pérez along with Nona Perera Betancor, Director General of Cultural Heritage, Laura Fuentes, Youth General Manager, and several council members from Gran Canaria, La Gomera, El Hierro, La Palma, Lanzarote, and FECAM. The gathering reflected ongoing dialogue with cultural actors as the legislature nears its end. The event was accompanied by a caption noting the Public Cultural System Act’s approval and its photographic record.
Key innovations also include a Cultural Window that unifies institutional procedures, the introduction of a Cultural Research and Analysis Service for greater transparency, and a formal network for cultural facilities intended to broaden access, participation, and creative development for all residents.
The discourse of the day featured multiple regional voices. Manuel Marrero, speaking for the Sí Podemos Canarias group, highlighted the law’s qualitative refinement in recent months. He noted that the bill positions the Canary Islands as a pioneer in cooperation and coordination, aiming to craft a public service grounded in efficiency, equity, and a sustainable cultural strategy that supports Agenda 2030. The shared objective is to weave culture into the social fabric and well being of the autonomous community. This sentiment resonated with supporters who stress that culture is a social right integral to public life.
Lorena Hernández of the Popular Party emphasized that culture should not be suppressed in times of difficulty. She argued for a policy framework that guarantees inclusive access to culture alongside health and housing, and that policy should be a living guideline with clear objectives rather than a mere sequence of events. She also stressed that while the law is ambitious, it remains executable with commitment. Transforming the policy into a workable framework is a priority they proudly endorse.
María del Pino González Vega of the Socialist Party celebrated the session as a milestone toward a Canary Islands that recognizes culture as a right and ensures universal participation in cultural life. She argued that the law will safeguard the cultural sector and support regional development while advancing social justice and equal access to cultural life for all residents.
A core pillar remains the coordination among public administrations to meet the region’s needs. Luis Alberto Campos of Nueva Canarias described this as a concrete reason for the standard’s historic demand and its reproduction in Spanish policy. He added that proper planning and service delivery can replace scattered municipal cultural centers with a coherent regional approach. Ongoing education and new professional roles are highlighted as essential elements of the law.
Juan Manuel García Ramos of the Nationalist group recalled prior milestones such as the Libraries and Cultural Heritage law enacted in 2019. He acknowledged the law’s ambition while admitting it must be practical to implement. Melodie Mendoza of the Gomera Socialist Association echoed the goal of acknowledging culture’s role in building Canarian society and reminded audiences that a large portion of the population has not yet benefited fully from cultural offerings, hence the law’s emphasis on access and opportunity.
Vidina Espino of the Mixed Group noted that culture is a fundamental good and a key driver of societal development. She called for the system to be coordinated with active participation from the cultural sector and professionals to ensure administrative efficiency. Among proposed changes, a 5 percent cultural contribution from insular and local enterprises was discussed; ultimately it was kept as a recommendation due to constitutional considerations and practical feasibility.
structure of the law
The law unfolds in two major sections, seven Additional Provisions, a Transitional Provision, a Removed Provision, and two Final Provisions.
Title I declares the law’s purpose: to establish and regulate the Canary Islands Public Cultural System, outlining core principles that guide the actions and goals of public administrations and affiliated public sector bodies and institutions.
Title II organizes the Public Cultural System of the Canary Islands into four chapters. Its aim is to create and regulate a system that integrates public administrations and other public sector entities, alongside eligible private actors, to carry out cultural activities and services in the region. The system also contemplates individuals and organizations in the private sector that operate cultural services under the specified conditions.
Moreover, the Canary Islands Public Cultural System seeks to coordinate the range of cultural activities, benefits, and services provided by public authorities and other public sector bodies within a framework of cooperation and shared responsibility. Its overarching objective is to deliver cultural programs and services to all residents across the archipelago, ensuring access to culture and participation in cultural life under conditions of freedom, equality, universal access, and transparency.