Central level

State competences[1]

• Responsibility for promoting culture (funding, subsidies, grants etc.) and facilitating cultural communication between the Autonomous Communities, in collaboration with them.

• Management of libraries, archives and museums of a state character; though the National Library of Spain was granted fiscal and revenue autonomy in 2014.
• Protection of heritage (cultural, architectural and artistic) against exportations and despoliation.
• Legislation on intellectual property and freedom of expression.
• Basic legislation of information and communication systems (radio, television and press).
• Promotion of cooperation between flagship cultural institutions.

Regional level

• Responsibility for promoting culture in the Autonomous Communities (funding, subsidies, grants, etc.).
• Management of libraries, archives and museums of a regional character.
• Legislative development and management of services with a major public tradition (museums, libraries and archives, craftsmanship, performing arts, etc.).
• Financing of cultural institutions, in cooperation with the State;
• Implementation of national legislation relating to intellectual property and freedom of expression.
• Development and implementation of national legislation relating to information and communication systems.
• In 2014, the Council of Cultural Associations was created for monitoring and evaluation of policies of cultural associations in Catalonia.
• Promotion of the language of the Autonomous Community.

Local level

Provincial competences

• Securing coordination and provision of municipal services.
  

Municipal competences[2]

• Development of cultural activity at local level;
• Cultural-artistic heritage,
• Provisions of services of public library (> 5000 inhabitants).

Responsible ministries/bodies

Central

Ministry of Culture and Sport

Sources

Real Instituto Elcano de Estudios Internacionales y Estratégicos, Cultural policy in Spain, Madrid, 2004, pp. 9-20.

CulturePolicies.net, Spain