Spanish art galleries begin shutdown

Art galleries across Spain have begun a shutdown protest until February 7 to oppose the 21% VAT rate.

More than 200 art galleries nationwide are reported to be taking part in the action, launched at the call of the Consortium of Contemporary Art Galleries, CE Report quotes Anadolu Agency.

Gallery owners closed their shops and hung banners reading “immediate cultural VAT,” arguing that compared with VAT rates applied to art sales in other European Union (EU) countries, Spain’s rate is excessively high.

Despite warnings from within the sector and from the EU, the galleries criticized the government for failing to take action and demanded that VAT be reduced to between 5% and 8%.

Idoia Fernandez, president of the Consortium of Contemporary Art Galleries, told the press: “Although we have long conveyed our demand for a VAT reduction to the Ministries of Culture and Finance, nothing has been done. At a consortium meeting a few weeks ago, we decided to shut down. VAT on art galleries in Spain is far higher than in other European countries. There is also major inequality compared to other art forms such as music, film, and theater. We cannot continue like this.”

According to information provided by the consortium, VAT rates applied to art galleries range between 5% and 8% in France, Italy, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Portugal.

Spain’s most important contemporary art fair, ARCO, held in Madrid, will take place from February 4 to 8.