On 13 July, the Spanish Government announced the increase in VAT and the fact that cultural shows will be charged the standard rate instead of a reduced one, representing an increase of 8 to 21%. The complaints of the culture industry has spread like gunpowder. In press statements of trade associations of music promoters, and cinema exhibitors, now added is a statement of the Spanish Network of Public Theatres, Auditoriums, Tours and Festivals.
The press statement regrets that the performing arts are treated as an industry instead of the recognizing their role as a "pillar in the promotion and defense of culture", and refers to the Article 44.1 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right of citizens to access to culture. Also, the sector announces of loss of 12 million viewers per year and warns that the sharp rise in VAT endangers the survival of the industry of theater and dance, which employs over 20,000 people.
The statement also regrets that performing arts are treated unequally compared unequally compared to other European countries, since most of them apply "lower rates prevail with access to culture".