The purpose of this call is to regulate the granting of subsidies by the Barcelona Institute of Culture to fund projects aimed at "the renovation, modernisation and provision of technical facilities in private spaces for artistic and cultural creation, experimentation, dissemination and exhibition, in Cultura Viva spaces, bookshops and cinemas operating in the city of Barcelona".

This call is structured into four categories according to the following types of spaces:

• Category A. Independent, privately owned spaces for artistic and cultural creation, experimentation, dissemination and exhibition. These are understood as spaces that support artistic and cultural production, research and exhibition, and which, through a commitment to testing, rehearsal and experimentation, offer creators resources, tools and services. They can include artistic residencies and are transdisciplinary in nature.
• Category B. Cultura Viva spaces are small-scale, community-based venues that play a role in social cohesion, with a capacity of fewer than 150 people. These spaces deliver a stable cultural programme linked to live music, the performing arts or any form of expression related to contemporary art and popular culture, and play a role in social cohesion at the local level, with diversity understood as a core element. They promote interaction with different institutions, organisations and collectives whose aim is to promote decentralised cultural participation throughout the city of Barcelona, with projects that champion the value of creative and artistic processes carried out in a way that is accessible to the public.
• Category C. Bookshops, understood as establishments open to the public where the sale of books is the main activity, and which either hold the corresponding business licence or have this is stated as their purpose in their articles of association or deeds.
• Category D. Cinemas, understood as establishments open to the public that either hold the corresponding audiovisual exhibition licence or have this stated as their purpose in their articles of association or deeds.  

These subsidies are available to individuals or incorporated legal entities responsible for managing the venues that benefit from the subsidies, with the corresponding activity license, where applicable.

Each applicant may present only one grant application for each venue that they own or manage. 

Exclusions from this call: 

• In the case of works and measures to comply with regulations, and other improvement works, applications from legally constituted individuals or legal entities that manage municipally-owned spaces, publicly owned cultural institutions, or cultural facilities operated under a public consortium arrangement shall be excluded. 
• Legal or natural persons entitled to receive grants from the Consortium for the Plan for the Renovation and Equipping of Barcelona Theatres.
• Adult cinemas.
• Coworking spaces.

To be eligible for the subsidies, applicants must meet and provide evidence of the following requirements: 

1. Category A – Spaces for artistic and cultural creation, experimentation, exhibition and dissemination:
2. Investments must have been carried out during 2025 or must begin in 2025 and be completed by 30 September 2026.
3. The establishment must be located within the municipal district of Barcelona.
4. Operation of the space as a creation space, in accordance with the definition provided in section 5.a.
5. Category B – Cultura Viva spaces:
6. Investments must have been carried out during 2025 or must begin in 2025 and be completed by 30 September 2026.
7. The establishment must be located within the municipal district of Barcelona.
8. Operation of the space as a Cultura Viva space, in accordance with the definition provided in section 5.b.

1. Category C – Bookshops:
2. Investments must have been carried out during 2025 or must begin in 2025 and be completed by 30 September 2026.
3. The establishment must be located within the municipal district of Barcelona.
4. The establishment must be a bookshop, in accordance with the definition in section 5.c. 

1. Category D – Cinemas:
2. Investments must have been carried out during 2025 or must begin in 2025 and be completed by 30 September 2026.
3. The establishment must be located within the municipal district of Barcelona. 

There is a common requirement for all categories: not having received another subsidy from the Institute of Culture for the same project.

The subsidy application form can be downloaded from the Barcelona City Council’s e-office here: https://seuelectronica.ajuntament.barcelona.cat/oficinavirtual/ca  

For legal entities, in accordance with article 14 of Act 39/2015 of 1 October on the common administrative procedure of the public administrations, it is mandatory to complete and submit the application via the Online Procedures Office on Barcelona City Council’s e-office, following the instructions indicated on this portal.

For individuals who are not required to interact with the Administration electronically, applications should preferably be submitted via the Virtual Procedures Office on the e-office of the Barcelona City Council, although they may also be submitted at any registration office of the Barcelona City Council.

The application period will begin on the day following publication of the call in the Official Gazette of the Province of Barcelona and will end on 8 September 2025.