The National Council of Culture and the Arts of Catalinya (CoNCA) has firmly rejected the VAT increase in the cultural sector, arguing that culture is not a "dispensable luxury or a marginal aspect of society."
The body chaired by Carles Duarte warned that the VAT increase makes applied to museums and cultural events makes things more difficult for cultural consumption and the universalization of knowledge.
In his view, the "cultural weakening" makes the society more vulnerable and can cause contradictory effects with the targets of future patronage law that promotes the increased involvement of civil society in supporting cultural projects.
The CoNCA has expressed its commitment to excellence, talent, ambition in the creation and cultural production from the conviction of cultural responsability, based on its contribution to the critical capacity, clarity and sensitivity.
Cinema tickets, theater, concerts, amusement parks, circuses, sport event or access to zoos, which were previously taxed at a reduced VAT rate of 8 percent, will rise to 21 percent, and are going to be included in the category of general scheme of this tax, ie, almost triple, the central government has announced.