The Spanish and Catalan governments have joined forces to inject more than €1.1 million into a new grants programme designed to embed arts and culture within the curriculum of 190 schools across Catalonia. The initiative is set to benefit over 4,000 students, fostering creative projects throughout the academic year.
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Officials announced the joint funding after a visit to the Institut Escola Pere Lliscart in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, one of the schools participating in the scheme. According to the official report from Europa Press, the total investment amounts to €1,191,234, with the Spanish Government contributing €559,880 and the Generalitat de Catalunya providing the remaining €631,354.
A Collaborative Cultural Investment
The funding is part of a broader national programme from the Spanish Ministry of Culture called ‘Arte y Escuela’ (Art and School). This national fund, totalling €4 million, distributes resources among all of Spain’s autonomous communities to promote cultural integration in education. The Catalan initiative has successfully funded 77 distinct projects across the region.
During their visit to the school in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain’s Minister of Culture, Ernest Urtasun, highlighted the effective collaboration between the central government and the Generalitat. He was joined by the Catalan Minister (Consellera) of Culture, Sònia Hernández, and the city’s mayor, David Quirós. They observed students working on ‘Receptari il·lustrat’ (Illustrated Recipe Book), a creative project supported by the new grants.
Championing Culture as a Right
Minister Urtasun stressed that the government aims to ensure culture is not solely a consumer good, but rather a cultural right, a focus the Generalitat also supports. He confirmed that the funding line would be renewed in the coming year to continue this work.
Consellera Hernández echoed this sentiment, praising the programme for enabling cultural organisations to develop long-term projects that run for the entire school year. She emphasised that these initiatives are crucial for advancing cultural rights for all students. “This allows entities and associations to present projects to work in schools for a long duration,” she noted.
“The objective of these funds is to bring culture closer to educational centres.” – Ernest Urtasun, Spanish Minister of Culture
Reaching Rural and Vulnerable Communities
The grants primarily focus on ensuring an equitable distribution of cultural opportunities across Catalonia. The Catalan Department of Culture highlighted that projects are now established in regions often underserved by such initiatives, including Alt Pirineu i Aran, Terres de l’Ebre, Lleida, and Girona.
Furthermore, the selection process prioritised projects in small municipalities, lower-density areas, and vulnerable environments. This strategic approach aims to bridge the cultural access gap between major urban hubs and the rest of the territory, ensuring all students can participate.
A Political Plea for Future Funding
The event also became a platform for both ministers to call on Catalan parliamentary groups to approve the Generalitat’s upcoming 2026 budget. They argued the proposed budget, containing a “record investment in culture,” is vital for continuing and expanding programmes like ‘Arte y Escuela’.
Consellera Hernández urged “a joint effort from the political forces” to pass a budget including a 30% increase for the Culture department, totalling an additional €118 million. Minister Urtasun, a Catalan, added that passing the budget would benefit the country’s future. “It would show that we, the left-wing forces, are capable of reaching an agreement,” he remarked.
