Culture sales tax must drop from to 4%, says public arts body

Sales tax on cultural events in Spain needs to drop to 4%. This is the main demand of the National Council of Culture and Arts (CoNCA), which is run by the Catalan government to support the sector. The tax rate used to be 8%, until in 2012 - to the sector’s horror - Spain’s ruling conservative People’s Party raised it to 21%. It was not until last month that the Spanish executive cut it back to 10%. Yet on Wednesday, CoNCA insisted that this is not enough, when the council presented a document of 36 suggestions for the authorities in Madrid. The proposals come ahead of a debate in a Spanish parliament subcommittee on a framework text for the sector to be held in September.

Among the council’s “urgent” requests is an improvement in the working and fiscal conditions of employees. Specifically, it claims that commercial contracts need to be limited, as some employers are hiring self-employed people who should be on contract. Meanwhile, CoNCA also claims that circus and dance should receive special protection and, according to the body, the Spanish authorities should make it easier for professionals to combine retirement with artistic activities.

The document also insists that the sector needs specific legal representation within unions so that firms and employees can sign agreements that guarantee the working rights of artists. During the presentation, CoNCA vice-president, Gemma Sendra, stated that the culture sector has lost 40% of its budget in the past few years due to the crisis. Behind the figures, she said, there is an artistic collective that represents society: “We are not aware to what extent it is essential for the survival of our society,” she pointed out.