The Catalan Audit Office recommends that the Department of Culture "improve the transparency of direct subsidies," as reported by ACN. The Audit Office has issued a report on the department's direct subsidies in 2023, which that year totaled €62.08 million (23% of the total budget), allocated to 212 beneficiaries. 78.20% of the direct subsidies were awarded to specific recipients, and 21.80% were awarded without competitive bidding. 65.06% were granted to entities in which the Catalan government holds a minority stake, and the remainder to entities in which it does not hold a stake. Regarding the specific subsidies, the Audit Office states that "there is no evidence that, during the budget preparation process, the reasons justifying the choice of the direct award procedure instead of competitive bidding were verified, nor were the requirements for obtaining beneficiary status, and the amount of each subsidy is not justified." It also considers that there is a high frequency of direct subsidies to entities not partly owned by the Generalitat (Catalan government), which may imply "a high level of dependence on subsidies by the beneficiaries." The Catalan Court of Auditors has carried out comprehensive analyses and a review of 88 direct subsidy files, representing 94.64% of the total amount granted. The report, presented by Auditor Anna Tarrach, was approved by the full Court of Auditors at its session on December 23, 2025. "Insufficient and very vague" justification

In general, the justification for the reasons of public, social, economic, or humanitarian interest that hinder the call for proposals is "insufficient and very vague," and the report adds that some of the grants could have been included in existing calls for proposals or in future new or revised calls. According to the report, the required government approval was not included in three files, and in nine, the audited selection lacked some supporting documentation which, in the opinion of the auditing body, is "grounds for revocation and reimbursement." Regarding transparency, there are "serious deficiencies" in the information presented concerning the proactive publicity of the grants ("information is lacking on planned calls for proposals; there is a lack of clarity in the publicity of the grants awarded; there is a lack of publicity regarding financial controls, or there is no information on the beneficiaries' justifications"). The report concludes that the level of compliance with transparency obligations by beneficiary entities receiving subsidies exceeding €100,000 "is very low."

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Major museum facilities offer unique itineraries, workshops for children, and immersive activities that invite you to discover Barcelona's heritage through fresh eyes and experience it as a vibrant and participatory experience. Under the slogan "This Summer, Patrimoniea," cultural heritage is transformed into a living and surprising setting.

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Imagine a classical music recital in a medieval monastery overlooking the Mediterranean, a family workshop to discover the myths of Empúries at the archaeological site, or a treasure hunt in the Iberian city of Ullastret. These are some of the unique offerings of the "This Summer, Patrimonieja" program, which transforms Girona's cultural heritage into a living, participatory, and surprising setting.

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Enjoy an immersive sound and light show in a gem of Catalan Romanesque architecture, discover dinosaur eggs and footprints on a journey back in time, or delve into the riddles of keys and codes in an ancient device like the telegraph. These are just some of the unique experiences in the "This Summer, Heritage" program, which transforms the cultural heritage of the Pyrenees and the Aran Valley into a living, participatory, and surprising setting.

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Enjoy live music in centuries-old monasteries, a family treasure hunt in a medieval castle, or discover secrets of the past through a dramatized tour. These are just some of the offerings of the "This Summer, Heritage" program, which transforms the cultural heritage of Camp de Tarragona and Terres de l'Ebre into a lively, participatory, and surprising setting.

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The National Collection continues to grow. This Wednesday, the Minister of Culture, Sònia Hernández Almodóvar, announced the 431 acquisitions made over the past year, totaling 23,090 works, valued at €3.5 million. Among the most emblematic are a Catalan-made Nacional Pescara automobile; the paintings The family, by Olga Sacharoff, and Portrait of Manolita Piña, by Joaquín Torres-García; three sculptures by Ismael Smith; the tapestry Starbird, by Aurèlia Muñoz, and the engraving Saint Jerome in a dark room, by Rembrandt. For Hernández, the National Collection is a "priority" since it must allow society "to identify itself as a community." The councilor also highlights the variety and chronological scope of the acquisitions, from ancient Greece to the present day. Other works acquired include Exorcism of Princess Sofia before the body of Saint Anthony the Abbot, by Ramon de Mur (c. 1430); a fragment of an altarpiece from the Miracle of Saint Martin, by the Master of Son (late 15th century); the luxury copy of the manuscript of the Court Ordinations of Pedro III, king of Catalonia-Aragon (1450-1514), and the incunabulum of the Constitutions of Catalonia (1495).

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