How is the human tower world financed?
Public administration, sponsorships and contracts provide the bulk of the income
In addition to human castellers (human towers) and castellers (human towers), a significant backbone is required to support the activity, which is free for participants. Travel, maintenance of the premises, and medical insurance are three of the main expenses that groups must cover. Therefore, income must be guaranteed through subsidies, sponsorships, fees (which are almost always voluntary), and bookings for performances.
As one of the country's major cultural events, castellers receive subsidies from the Generalitat (Generalitat), provincial councils, and town councils to carry out their activities. This support can translate into direct income for the groups, the organization of performances, or collaboration agreements.
Agreements for performances
There are two main mechanisms for human tower performances. The classic approach is that the invited group receives a sum of money from the administration or organizing group, depending primarily on their level and the number of towers they are estimated to be capable of building. At the same time, many groups reach agreements with each other to exchange ideas and reduce costs. One group organizes a performance, while the other acts as a guest, and later the other way around, compensating, if necessary, for the differences in the size of each group. On the other hand, there are commercial performances, in which a group is hired by a company to perform a private performance in exchange for a fee.
The group's own income
In addition to any grants and sponsorships they may receive, groups also organize various events open to the public. Thus, it's common for them to hold concerts or street events, which serve both to raise money and to be seen in their surroundings and recruit new castellers. In addition to the mostly voluntary membership fees some groups charge, many also hold Christmas raffles or participate in lottery tickets.
Insurance, the big thorn in the side
Health insurance is one of the largest expenses incurred by the human tower grouping world. It is managed directly by the Coordinator of Human Tower Groups of Catalonia and in 2024 cost around €570,000. It is estimated that medical coverage for each human tower group is around €50 per year. Thus, the Coordinator allows groups to avoid considerable expenses.
At the same time, groups pay a fee to the Coordinator based on their level and, therefore, the number of insured members. For groups of 10, the contribution is €5,100, €3,600 for groups of 9, €2,400 for groups of 8, €1,500 for groups of 7, and €900 for groups of 6 and groups in formation.
Among the income, on the other hand, subsidies from public administrations stand out. This year, 427,000 euros (300,000 euros from the Generalitat (Generalitat), 70,000 euros from the Barcelona Provincial Council, 25,000 euros from the Tarragona Provincial Council, 11,000 euros from the Girona Provincial Council, 4,000 euros from the Lleida Provincial Council, and 7,000 euros from the Valls City Council) are allocated for various purposes.
The Coordinator, at the same time, relies on sponsorships, the main one being Damm, with 190,000 euros. This year, there has also been a substantial increase in La Red's investment, which now totals 140,000 euros. Of this, 40,000 euros remain as sponsorship and 100,000 euros are for the purchase of image rights and will revert to the groups, mostly in the security sector.