Overview
- More than 200 galleries have shuttered from February 2–7 in a coordinated national strike organized by the Consorcio de Galerías de Arte Contemporáneo.
- Participants also announced a three-month suspension of unpaid loans and other free collaborations with public and private institutions.
- Spain levies 21% VAT on gallery sales, far above rates in France (5.5%), Germany (7%), Italy (5%) and Portugal (6%), which galleries say distorts prices and hurts artists’ incomes.
- Sector leaders report years of unanswered appeals to the Culture and Finance ministries, and there has been no public commitment to adopt a reduced rate.
- The action is timed ahead of ARCOmadrid on March 4–8 to increase visibility, with some Spanish galleries opening branches abroad to benefit from lower taxes.