Catalonia has three main bodies that manage public cultural funding: CoNCA for grants to individual artists and creative projects, ICEC for support to companies and projects with a professional dimension, and ICUB for projects tied to the city of Barcelona. Each has its own objectives, criteria and deadlines — understanding the difference is the first step to knowing where to apply.
CoNCA — Consell Nacional de la Cultura i les Arts
CoNCA is the independent Catalan body that manages direct grants to individual artists and creators. Its main calls:
Research and creation grants: for artists wanting to dedicate a period to a specific creative project. Cover production costs, research and materials. Usual duration: one year. Open to all artistic disciplines.
Artist residency grants: partnerships with national and international residency spaces to facilitate access for Catalan artists to concentrated work periods outside their usual environment.
International mobility grants: for artists wanting to participate in festivals, professional markets, residencies or training abroad. Cover travel and accommodation costs.
CoNCA publishes its calls on the Tràmits Gencat portal and its own website. Applications are submitted electronically.
ICEC — Institut Català de les Empreses Culturals
ICEC is different from CoNCA: while CoNCA funds artists and creators, ICEC funds cultural companies and projects with an economic dimension. Its focus is professionalisation of the sector.
Key programmes:
Performing arts production grants: for companies and producers producing new shows with a professional distribution vocation. Particularly values projects with confirmed touring commitments or co-production agreements.
Distribution and export grants: for companies wanting to tour Spain and internationalise. Covers logistics, translation, subtitling and presence at international fairs.
Music and recording production grants: for recording, distribution and promotion projects by professional Catalan musicians.
Unlike CoNCA, accessing ICEC grants requires a professional business structure — at minimum, being self-employed and registered in the corresponding cultural activity.
ICUB — Institut de Cultura de Barcelona
ICUB is the municipal equivalent of ICEC for the city of Barcelona. Its calls target projects with a Barcelona connection:
General Grants Call: the main mechanism of Barcelona City Council for cultural, sports and community projects. Cultural lines cover artistic production, performing arts, music, visual arts and heritage.
Fàbriques de Creació: municipal creation and residency spaces (Fabra i Coats, Hangar, La Caldera, Antic Teatre, L’Estruch). Access by public call. They offer space, time and in some cases economic support.
Diputació de Barcelona and Consells Comarcals
For territory-based projects, the Diputació de Barcelona and Consells Comarcals (county councils) manage grants that many artists overlook. Especially relevant for traditional music projects, cultural activities in small municipalities and proximity-based projects.
See also:
- European cultural grants for artists
- INAEM and Spanish Ministry of Culture grants
- Local grants for artists: provincial and municipal
Ressona supports artists in building the project dossier and digital presence needed to compete for public funding. Get in touch.