After years of discussion, the state finally approved the new patronage law on December 19 through a decree. This rule, once uncertain due to electoral developments, now expands tax deductions for charitable donations and introduces new beneficiary types. It also allows donors to receive symbolic recognition for their contributions, including the option to commemorate gifts or obtain compensation equal to 15% of the donation value for goods and services, up to a cap of €25,000. At present, cultural institutions cannot publicly thank individuals or organizations for donations through informational leaflets, nor can they offer performance tickets to donors in return.
The reform to the patronage law drew broad support in Congress, with every parliamentary group backing it except Vox, which abstained. This change has long been sought by the cultural sector and also carries significant implications for scientific research. The current framework, in force since 2002, was described as outdated and uncompetitive by Eloi Planes, the president of Fundació Catalunya Cultura, who noted that it required modernization to remain viable in today’s context. A representative who led the reform effort in Congress, entering the chamber after a decade of advocacy, spoke to Catalan media about the milestone.
Yet Maite Esteve, head of the foundation that links private and public entities to connect business with culture, offered a measured assessment. The law is not the final blueprint, but it marks a positive step forward. Esteve pointed to France as a model for cultural policy and explained that prior hesitation within the Treasury’s Undersecretariat and the ministers who served there delayed the policy’s full development for more than two decades. She argued that while concerns about short-term economic impact persist, the long-term benefits are clear: a stronger employment base, a more robust creative economy, and increased opportunities for cultural projects. Data from the 2022 CoNCA report show that roughly 177,700 people work in Catalan culture, representing 5.1% of the regional workforce and about 1.9% of the economy’s overall value, underscoring culture as a meaningful economic driver.
Esteve also emphasized the need to raise awareness about the transformative power and social impact of culture. She highlighted examples such as the Gargar murals and the Penelles rural arts festival in Lleida, which earned the IMPULSA award, as signs of cultural vitality. The foundation, she noted, helps revitalize communities each year by fostering new patronage initiatives that bridge the gap between business activity and cultural heritage. This ongoing work aims to dispel the notion of culture as an elite domain and to promote broader participation and investment in the arts and cultural life.
Fundació Catalunya Cultura continues to focus on strengthening the Catalan regulatory framework to support patronage. The organization envisions a policy climate that encourages creative funding, expands opportunities for donors, and drives widespread pedagogy on cultural patronage. The overarching goal is to move past a limited, elitist view and toward an inclusive approach that recognizes culture as a public good with tangible social and economic benefits. In this light, the foundation is pursuing practical steps to translate ideas into concrete actions, ensuring that patronage channels become accessible to a broader range of supporters and that the cultural sector can scale its impact across communities.