Ministry of Culture (Spain)

The Ministry of Culture (MC) is the department of the Government of Spain responsible for the promotion, protection and dissemination of the Spanish historical heritage, national museums, art, books, reading and literary creation, of cinematographic and audiovisual activities and of national archives and libraries.^[2]

Ministry of Culture

Ministerio de Cultura
The headquarters of the Ministry
Agency overview
Formed	July 5, 1977; 46 years ago (1977-07-05) (as Ministry of Culture and Welfare)
Preceding agencies	Ministry of Education and Science Ministry of Information and Tourism
Type	Ministry
Jurisdiction	Government of Spain
Headquarters	Casa de las Siete Chimeneas, 1 Plaza del Rey, Madrid
Annual budget	€ 1.7 billion, 2023^[1]
Minister responsible	Ernest Urtasun, Minister
Agency executives	Javier García Fernández, Secretary-General for Culture and Sport José Manuel Franco, President of the National Sports Council Eduardo Fernández Palomares, Under-Secretary
Child agencies	Consejo Superior de Deportes National Library of Spain Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts National Institute of Performing Arts and Music Prado Museum Reina Sofía Museum Spanish Anti-Doping Agency
Website	Ministry of Culture and Sport

It is also responsible for the promotion and dissemination of culture in Spanish, as well as the promotion of cultural cooperation and, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, of international relations in the field of culture. Likewise, the MCD is responsible for the proposal and execution of the government' policy on sport.^[2]

The MCD is headed by the Culture Minister, a Cabinet member who is appointed by the Monarch on advice of the Prime Minister. Like the Ministry of Agriculture, it does not have any Secretariat of State and is organized through a General Secretariat (with the rank of undersecretariat) and the Ministry's undersecretariat. The National Sports Council is also part of the Ministry. The current Minister of Culture and Sport, since 12 July 2021, is Miquel Iceta.^[3][4]

History

Early period

The Ministry of Culture was created during the Spanish transition to democracy. However, the government action on culture dates back to the 18th century. From the beginning of the century and promoted by the Crown, it appeared the first Royal Academies such as the Language (1713), History (1738) or Fine Arts (1752), all of them dependent from the Secretariat of State.^[5]

With the development and specialization of the Administration, the promotion and protection of culture was assumed by the Ministry of Development between 1834 and 1837 when it assumed powers over theaters, and all kinds of public amusements and recreation, as well as the Conservatories of Arts and Music,^[6] by the Ministry of the Interior between 1837 and 1847 and Development again between 1847 and 1851, by the Ministry of Grace and Justice between 1851 and 1855^[7] and again by the Ministry of Development until 1900.

The Budget Act of 1900 created the Ministry of Public Instruction and Fine Arts^[8] which assumed the responsibilities on culture until 1977. During this period, the Directorate-General for Fine Arts was created in 1915^[9] which had competences on civil constructions related to National Monuments, Museums, Artistic Schools, Painting, Music Schools and other entities of an artistic nature^[10] and in 1939 it was created the Directorate-General for Archives and Libraries. Both merged in 1974 in a new Directorate-General for Artistic and Cultural Heritage.^[11]

In 1946 it was created the Directorate-General for Cinematography and Theater which main task was to censor this cultural sectors. It was suppressed in 1967.

Democracy

Finally, in 1977 it was created an independent Culture Ministry which assumed the Directorate-General for Artistic and Cultural Heritage from the Ministry of Education, the responsibilities of the Under Secretary for Family, Youth and Sport from the Ministry of the Presidency and the information and cultural functions of the Ministry of Information and Tourism (cinema, theaters, music). Likewise, the Secretariat of State for Culture was created and it also assumed RTVE.^[12]

The final structure established nine general directions: Artistic Heritage, Archives and Museums; Cultural Diffusion; Books and Libraries; Music Theater and Shows; Cinematography; Community Development; Youth; and Broadcasting and Television. It also assumed organically the Superior Council of Sports.^[13]

In 1981 the Ministry ceded to the City of Madrid the management of the Teatro Español.^[14] In 1985 the Ministry suffered a big reshuffle because of the devolution of cultural powers to the recently created Regions. At the same time it was created the National Institute of Performing Arts and Music (INAEM) and the Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts (ICAA).^[15]

Between 1996 and 2004 the Ministry of Culture was merged with the Ministry of Education although the Secretariat of State for Culture was maintained. In 2004 it was created again and in 2011 the Ministry assumed the competencies on bullfighting.^[16] It was suppressed again in 2011 until 2018 when the new prime minister Pedro Sánchez recovered this Ministry.^[17]

Structure

 

Pío Cabanillas Gallas, first Minister of Culture.

The Ministry's structure is:^[2]

• The Secretariat of State for Culture.
  • The Directorate-General for Books, Comics and Reading.
    • The Deputy Directorate-General for the Promotion of Books, Reading and Spanish Literature.
    • The Deputy Directorate-General for Library Coordination.
  • The Directorate-General for Cultural Industries, Intellectual Property and Cooperation.
    • The Deputy Directorate-General for the Promotion of Cultural Industries.
    • The Deputy Directorate-General for Intellectual Property.
    • The Deputy Directorate-General for Cultural Cooperation with the Autonomous Communities.
  • The Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage and Fine Arts.
    • The Deputy Directorate-General for the Management and Coordination of Cultural Assets.
    • The Deputy Directorate-General for Records and Documentation of Historical Heritage.
    • The Deputy Directorate-General for the Cultural Heritage Institute of Spain.
    • The Deputy Directorate-General for State Museums.
    • The Deputy Directorate-General for State Archives.
  • The Technical Cabinet.
  • The Deputy Directorate-General for International Relations and European Union
• The Undersecretariat of Culture.
  • The General Technical Secretariat.
  • The Budget Office.
  • The Deputy Directorate-General for Economic Management and General Affairs.
  • The Deputy Directorate-General for Human Resources and Services Inspection.
  • The Technical Cabinet.
  • The Information Technology Division.

Public organisms under direction of Ministry of Culture and Sport:

• The Reina Sofía Museum.
• The Prado Museum.
• The National Library of Spain.
• The National Institute of Performing Arts and Music.
• The Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts.

List of officeholders

Office name:

• Ministry of Culture and Welfare (1977)
• Ministry of Culture (1977–1996; 2004–2011, 2023–present)
• Ministry of Culture and Sports (2018–2023)

Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Party		Government	Prime Minister (Tenure)		Ref.
		Took office	Left office	Duration
	Pío Cabanillas Gallas (1923–1991)	5 July 1977	1 September 1977	1 year and 275 days		PP	Suárez II		Adolfo Suárez   (1976–1981)	^[18] ^[19] ^[20]
		1 September 1977	6 April 1979
						UCD
	Manuel Clavero (1926–2021)	6 April 1979	17 January 1980	286 days		UCD	Suárez III			^[21] ^[22]
	Ricardo de la Cierva (1926–2015)	18 January 1980	9 September 1980	235 days		UCD				^[23] ^[24]
	Íñigo Cavero (1929–2002)	9 September 1980	27 February 1981	1 year and 84 days		UCD				^[25] ^[26] ^[27]
		27 February 1981	2 December 1981				Calvo-Sotelo		Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo   (1981–1982)
	Soledad Becerril (born 1944)	2 December 1981	3 December 1982	1 year and 1 day		UCD				^[28] ^[29]
	Javier Solana (born 1942)	3 December 1982	26 July 1986	5 years and 222 days		PSOE	González I		Felipe González   (1982–1996)	^[30] ^[31] ^[32]
		26 July 1986	12 July 1988				González II
	Jorge Semprún (1923–2011)	12 July 1988	7 December 1989	2 years and 244 days		Independent				^[33] ^[34]
		7 December 1989	13 March 1991				González III
	Jordi Solé Tura (1930–2009)	13 March 1991	14 July 1993	2 years and 123 days		PSC–PSOE				^[35] ^[36]
	Carmen Alborch (1947–2018)	14 July 1993	6 May 1996	2 years and 297 days		Independent	González IV			^[37] ^[38]
Office disestablished during this interval.^[a]
	Carmen Calvo (born 1957)	18 April 2004	9 July 2007	3 years and 82 days		PSOE	Zapatero I		José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero   (2004–2011)	^[39] ^[40]
	César Antonio Molina (born 1952)	9 July 2007	14 April 2008	1 year and 272 days		Independent				^[41] ^[42] ^[43]
		14 April 2008	7 April 2009				Zapatero II
	Ángeles González-Sinde (born 1965)	7 April 2009	22 December 2011	2 years and 259 days		Independent				^[44] ^[45]
Office disestablished during this interval.^[b]
	Màxim Huerta (born 1971)	7 June 2018	13 June 2018	6 days		Independent	Sánchez I		Pedro Sánchez   (2018–present)	^[46] ^[47]
	José Guirao (1959–2022)	14 June 2018	13 January 2020	1 year and 213 days		Independent				^[48] ^[49]
	José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes (born 1968)	13 January 2020	12 July 2021	1 year and 180 days		PSOE	Sánchez II			^[50] ^[51]
	Miquel Iceta (born 1960)	12 July 2021	21 November 2023	2 years and 132 days		PSC–PSOE				^[52] ^[53]
	Ernest Urtasun (born 1982)	21 November 2023	Incumbent	88 days		CatComú	Sánchez III			^[54]

Awards given out

Established in 1975 and first presented in 1976, the Ministry of Culture awards the Miguel de Cervantes Prize each year to honor the lifetime achievement of an outstanding writer in the Spanish language.^[55]

Ministry of Culture also awards various other National Prizes.^[56]

See also

• Right to science and culture
• Right to education
• Welfare rights
• Economic, social and cultural rights
• Culture minister

Notes

1. The department's competences were transferred to the Ministry of Education and Culture between 1996 and 2000 and to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports between 2000 and 2004.
2. The department's competences were transferred to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports between 2011 and 2018.

References

1. "2023 State Budget" (PDF). www.boe.es. 1 January 2023. (PDF) from the original on Jan 6, 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
2. "Royal Decree 139/2020, of January 28, which establishes the basic organic structure of the ministerial departments". boe.es. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
3. "Así han prometido su cargo ante el rey los 22 ministros de Pedro Sánchez". www.telemadrid.es. Telemadrid. 13 January 2020.
4. S.A, Web Financial Group. "Rodríguez Uribes reivindica la visión de los "valores" en la cultura y afirma su voluntad de "escucha" y "diálogo"". BOLSAMANIA (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-01-13.
5. Barrero García, Ana María (2006). "La materia administrativa y su gestión en el Reinado de Fernando VII" (PDF).
6. . 2012-01-18. Archived from the original on 2012-01-18. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
7. . 2011-11-04. Archived from the original on 2011-11-04. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
8. . 2011-11-08. Archived from the original on 2011-11-08. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
9. "ABC (Madrid) - 17/01/1915, p. 27 - ABC.es Hemeroteca". hemeroteca.abc.es. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
10. . 2011-11-08. Archived from the original on 2011-11-08. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
11. Plaza, Luis Mansilla; Barba, Roberto C. Fernández (1997). Actas de la Primera Sesión Científica Sobre Patrimonio Minero Metalúrgico: Almadén, 21 y 22 de Octubre 1996 (in Spanish). Univ de Castilla La Mancha. ISBN 9788489492820.
12. "ABC (Madrid) - 05/07/1977, p. 102 - ABC.es Hemeroteca". hemeroteca.abc.es. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
13. "Royal Decree 2258/1977, of 27 August, on the organic structure and functions of the Ministry of Culture". www.boe.es. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
14. "ABC (Madrid) - 16/10/1981, p. 35 - ABC.es Hemeroteca". hemeroteca.abc.es. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
15. "ABC (Madrid) - 25/04/1985, p. 29 - ABC.es Hemeroteca". hemeroteca.abc.es. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
16. "El Ministerio de Cultura asume las competencias taurinas | Toros | elmundo.es". www.elmundo.es. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
17. R., Felipe (7 July 2018). Batet Lamaña, Meritxell (ed.). "Real Decreto 817/2018, de 6 de julio, por el que se desarrolla la estructura orgánica básica del Ministerio de Cultura y Deporte y se modifica el Real Decreto 595/2018, de 22 de junio, por el que se establece la estructura orgánica básica de los departamentos ministeriales". Boletín Oficial del Estado. Ministerio de Política Territorial y Función Pública (164): 14. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
18. "Real Decreto 1563/1977, de 4 de julio, por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobierno" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (159): 15045–15046. 5 July 1977. ISSN 0212-033X.
19. "Real Decreto 2258/1977, de 27 de agosto, sobre estructura orgánica y funciones del Ministerio de Cultura" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (209): 19581–19584. 1 September 1977. ISSN 0212-033X.
20. "Real Decreto 713/1979, de 5 de abril, por el que se dispone el cese en sus funciones de los miembros del Gobierno" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (83): 8192. 6 April 1979. ISSN 0212-033X.
21. "Real Decreto 711/1979, de 5 de abril, por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobierno" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (83): 8192. 6 April 1979. ISSN 0212-033X.
22. "Real Decreto 64/1980, de 16 de enero, por el que se dispone el cese del Ministro de Cultura don Manuel Clavero Arévalo" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (15): 1224. 17 January 1980. ISSN 0212-033X.
23. "Real Decreto 67/1980, de 17 de enero, por el que se nombra Ministro de Cultura a don Ricardo de la Cierva y Hoces" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (16): 1343. 18 January 1980. ISSN 0212-033X.
24. "Real Decreto 1795/1980, de 8 de septiembre, por el que se dispone el cese de diversos miembros del Gobierno" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (217): 20294. 9 September 1980. ISSN 0212-033X.
25. "Real Decreto 1797/1980, de 8 de septiembre, por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobierno" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (217): 20294. 9 September 1980. ISSN 0212-033X.
26. "Real Decreto 256/1981, de 26 de febrero, por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobierno" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (50): 4430. 27 February 1981. ISSN 0212-033X.
27. "Real Decreto 2829/1981, de 1 de diciembre, por el que se dispone el cese de diversos miembros del Gobierno" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (288): 28203. 2 December 1981. ISSN 0212-033X.
28. "Real Decreto 2830/1981, de 1 de diciembre, por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobierno" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (288): 28203. 2 December 1981. ISSN 0212-033X.
29. "Real Decreto 3297/1982, de 2 de diciembre, por el que se declara el cese en sus funciones de los miembros del Gobierno" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (290): 33340. 3 December 1982. ISSN 0212-033X.
30. "Real Decreto 3295/1982, de 2 de diciembre, por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobierno" (pdf). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (290): 33339. 3 December 1982. ISSN 0212-033X.
31. "Real Decreto 1521/1986, de 25 de julio, por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobierno" (pdf). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (178): 26706. 26 July 1986. ISSN 0212-033X.
32. "Real Decreto 730/1988, de 11 de julio, por el que se dispone el cese de diversos miembros del Gobierno" (pdf). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (166): 21538. 12 July 1988. ISSN 0212-033X.
33. "Real Decreto 731/1988, de 11 de julio, por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobierno" (pdf). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (166): 21538. 12 July 1988. ISSN 0212-033X.
34. "Real Decreto 300/1991, de 12 de marzo, por el que se dispone el cese de diversos miembros del Gobierno" (pdf). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (62): 8398. 13 March 1991. ISSN 0212-033X.
35. "Real Decreto 301/1991, de 12 de marzo, por el que se nombran Miembros del Gobierno" (pdf). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (62): 8398. 13 March 1991. ISSN 0212-033X.
36. "Real Decreto 896/1993, de 7 de junio, por el que se declara el cese de los miembros del Gobierno" (pdf). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (136): 17167. 8 June 1993. ISSN 0212-033X.
37. "Real Decreto 1175/1993, de 13 de julio, por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobierno" (pdf). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (167): 21211. 14 July 1993. ISSN 0212-033X.
38. "Real Decreto 440/1996, de 4 de marzo, por el que se declara el cese de los miembros del Gobierno" (pdf). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (56): 8712. 5 March 1996. ISSN 0212-033X.
39. "Real Decreto 558/2004, de 17 de abril, por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobierno" (pdf). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (94): 16008. 18 April 2004. ISSN 0212-033X.
40. "Real Decreto 956/2007, de 6 de julio, por el que se dispone el cese de doña Carmen Calvo Poyato como Ministra de Cultura" (pdf). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (163): 29464. 9 July 2007. ISSN 0212-033X.
41. "Real Decreto 960/2007, de 6 de julio, por el que se nombra Ministro de Cultura a don César Antonio Molina Sánchez" (pdf). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (163): 29464. 9 July 2007. ISSN 0212-033X.
42. "Real Decreto 436/2008, de 12 de abril, por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobierno" (pdf). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (90): 19762. 14 April 2008. ISSN 0212-033X.
43. "Real Decreto 550/2009, de 7 de abril, por el que se dispone el cese de don César Antonio Molina Sánchez como Ministro de Cultura" (pdf). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (85): 33168. 7 April 2009. ISSN 0212-033X.
44. "Real Decreto 558/2009, de 7 de abril, por el que se nombra Ministra de Cultura a doña Ángeles González Sinde" (pdf). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (85): 33176. 7 April 2009. ISSN 0212-033X.
45. "Real Decreto 1743/2011, de 21 de noviembre, por el que se declara el cese de los miembros del Gobierno" (pdf). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (281): 123537. 22 November 2011. ISSN 0212-033X.
46. "Real Decreto 357/2018, de 6 de junio, por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobierno" (pdf). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (138): 58729. 7 June 2018. ISSN 0212-033X.
47. "Real Decreto 417/2018, de 13 de junio, por el que se dispone el cese de don Màxim Huerta Hernández como Ministro de Cultura y Deporte" (pdf). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (144): 60880. 14 June 2018. ISSN 0212-033X.
48. "Real Decreto 418/2018, de 13 de junio, por el que se nombra Ministro de Cultura y Deporte a don José Guirao Cabrera" (pdf). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (144): 60881. 14 June 2018. ISSN 0212-033X.
49. "Real Decreto 337/2019, de 29 de abril, por el que se declara el cese de los miembros del Gobierno" (pdf). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (103): 43583. 30 April 2019. ISSN 0212-033X.
50. "Real Decreto 8/2020, de 12 de enero, por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobierno" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (11): 2882. 13 January 2020. ISSN 0212-033X.
51. "Real Decreto 520/2021, de 10 de julio, por el que se dispone el cese de don José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes como Ministro de Cultura y Deporte" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (165): 82894. 12 July 2021. ISSN 0212-033X.
52. "Real Decreto 532/2021, de 10 de julio, por el que se nombra Ministro de Cultura y Deporte a don Miquel Octavi Iceta i Llorens" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (165): 82906. 12 July 2021. ISSN 0212-033X.
53. "Real Decreto 695/2023, de 24 de julio, por el que se declara el cese de los miembros del Gobierno" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (176): 108070–108071. 25 July 2023. ISSN 0212-033X.
54. "Real Decreto 835/2023, de 20 de noviembre, por el que se nombran Ministros del Gobierno" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (278): 154695. 21 November 2023. ISSN 0212-033X.
55. Bhutia, Thinley Kalsang; Luebering, J.E.; Pallardy, Richard; Sampaolo, Marco; Tikkanen, Amy (25 November 2014). . Britannica.com. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Archived from the original on 7 March 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
56. Spanish Ministry of Culture

External links

• Official site of the Spanish Ministry of Culture (in Spanish)