Barcelona and the wider Catalonia region are set for a record culture budget, after the Generalitat’s culture department secured €574 million for 2024. That is a 41% rise on 2023, and includes an extra €50 million from the latest agreement.

Culture minister Sònia Hernández announced the figures in the Catalan Parliament. She said the department is working with its directorates general to distribute the new funds, with a focus on planned investment, cultural rights and support for municipalities, organisations and companies. The budget also moves the sector closer to its long-term goal of reaching 2% of the Generalitat’s spending on culture.

One of the biggest items is a new plan for National Art Reserves, with €75 million set aside until 2029. Officials are looking for land or a warehouse in central Catalonia for a 35,000 square metre facility that would store collections for major institutions, including MNAC and MACBA, as well as other museums across the region.

The budget also sets aside €184.8 million for investment in national cultural facilities until 2029. That includes €60 million for MNAC’s expansion, €5.3 million for MACBA’s growth, and €10.4 million for the new digital arts centre at La Foneria on La Rambla in Barcelona. There is also €16.5 million for the National Archive of Catalonia, €5.5 million for the Library of Catalonia, and €7 million for a new House of Letters at Palau Requesens.

Further funding will go to audiovisual production, with €36 million allocated to the sector. Catalunya Media City will receive €56.2 million from the Spanish government for the Nave Turbinas at Les Tres Xemeneies and new, larger studios in Terrassa. The department is also drafting a plan for cultural services and equipment to support the future Cultural Rights Law, backed by an initial €51 million over four years for local subsidies.

The budget works out at €76.8 per person each year for culture, compared with €30 per person during Artur Mas’s governments in the economic crisis. Including linguistic policy, culture now accounts for 1.8% of the Generalitat’s total budget, close to the sector’s 2% target. For more Barcelona coverage, see our Community and Sport pages.

Originally published by La Vanguardia Catalonia. Read original article.