Foundations in the cultural field generate 0.7% of GDP and 0.9% of national employment, with 170,000 jobs, according to AEF

Foundations in the cultural field generate more than 10,340 million euros of gross added value (0.7% of GDP) and support nearly 170,000 jobs (0.9% of national employment), as can be seen from the report ‘The socioeconomic contribution of foundations in the cultural field’ by the Spanish Association of Foundations (AEF).

The study comprehensively analyzes for the first time the social, economic and territorial footprint of the foundations that work in culture in Spain and places these entities as a relevant actor in the democratization of cultural access, in the conservation and dissemination of heritage, in the promotion of artistic creation and in the revitalization of local economies, especially in rural municipalities or with less cultural offer.

Thus, the report indicates that the socioeconomic contribution of foundations in the cultural field is based on the idea that culture is not only an area of ​​production and consumption, but rather an integrated social good that contributes to cohesion, a sense of belonging, individual and collective well-being and critical thinking, while generating economic activity and employment.

In this ecosystem (where public administrations, cultural and creative industries and civil society coexist), foundations act as a bridge that expands the capillarity, continuity and social reach of cultural action, and reinforces their territorial presence, the document adds.

The study dedicates a specific block to quantifying the economic impact of foundations in the cultural field based on the Input-Output methodology. To do this, accounting information provided by the AEF was used, with access to data for more than 2,000 ordinary foundations in the cultural field, identifying more than 585 as effective active foundations (those that publish economic-financial information on income statements and/or balance sheets).

For the sample of more than 585 effective active foundations, the report estimates a total economic impact (direct, indirect and induced) of 1.6 billion euros of GVA and more than 30,180 jobs (full-time equivalent). Disaggregated, the GVA is distributed in 430 (direct), 650 (indirect) and 520 (induced), while employment is distributed in 9,690 (direct), 13,250 (indirect) and 7,230 (induced).

From this base, and applying the estimated multipliers, the report extrapolates the impact to all foundations in the cultural field, placing it at more than 10,340 million euros of GVA (0.7% of Spanish GDP) and up to 169,580 total jobs (0.9% of employment in Spain). In this estimate, the GVA is structured as 2,740 (direct), 4,330 (indirect) and 3,270 (induced), and employment as 53,800 (direct), 74,900 (indirect) and 40,880 (induced).

The report concludes that for every euro of GVA generated by cultural foundations, up to 1.9 additional euros are generated in the economy as a whole. In employment, for each position created directly, up to 2.1 additional total jobs are supported. Among the sectors benefited by the orders and activity of these foundations are retail and wholesale trade, administrative and office services, and repair services.

In addition to its economic impact, the study estimates its territorial impact, with more than 3,500 foundations present in 951 municipalities, 40% of which are rural, which, in many cases, act as promoters of the local and tourist revitalization of the territory.

Although an important part of the foundations is concentrated in large urban centers, the report highlights that their contribution to territorial cohesion is important: 40% of cultural foundations are located in a municipality that belongs to rural areas (less than 30,000 inhabitants and density less than 100 inhabitants/km2).

Regarding the social impact, it points out that they democratize access to culture by granting scholarships, organizing exhibitions, festivals, workshops and educational activities that reach diverse audiences, including people with disabilities, rural communities and young people from vulnerable backgrounds.

It also confirms that foundations in the cultural field play a fundamental role as entities that contribute to the development of multiple cultural practices and processes, such as the preservation of heritage, the promotion of research through the financing of third-party projects or recognition through the granting of awards.

Regarding the impact on consolidation, it details a cultural fabric made up of thousands of professionals, creators, artists, technicians, entrepreneurs and volunteers who constitute the essential nucleus that articulates cultural activity while in international impact it indicates that, in 2004, 19 million international tourists visited Spain mainly for cultural reasons, with an associated expense of 26.16 billion euros and more than 34 million carried out some cultural activity during their stay.

The study identifies 3,572 foundations in the cultural field, a figure that represents around 35% of the total Spanish foundation sector, which have more than 870 spaces available for cultural activities. Its presence, depending on the location of its headquarters, extends to 951 municipalities, almost 12% of Spanish municipalities.

On the other hand, the entities interviewed together carried out more than 20,000 activities and met the needs of more than 26 million beneficiaries, with the participation of more than 8,250 volunteers. In addition, 80% of the foundation declared that the territorial scope of the activities they carry out exceeded the municipal area, from which the entity originates, including a dozen of them, which indicated that they have international scope.

The foundations have also stated that around 70% of cultural activities integrate an inclusive perspective towards disability and that the number of beneficiaries with disabilities of cultural initiatives reaches almost 400,000 people.

90% CONSIDER CULTURE “VERY OR FAIRLY IMPORTANT”

On the other hand, the report states that 9 out of 10 Spaniards consider culture “very or quite important” in their life, but identifies barriers and inequalities. Furthermore, one in five points to price as the main impediment to participating more in cultural activities.

Likewise, cultural consumption is conditioned by socioeconomic variables: educational level, employment situation, income level, age or the size of the municipality of residence can make the access capacity up to 2 times higher among different profiles.

In terms of spending, it reveals that households with monthly incomes greater than 3,000 euros allocate 2.6 times more cultural spending than households with incomes less than 1,000 euros, and the cultural spending of households with a main breadwinner with higher education is more than double that of those without the equivalent secondary school.

In parallel, from the offer, the report shows a dual reality: Spain has a very extensive heritage and cultural assets, but the territorial distribution of cultural services presents inequalities.

For example, Spain has more than 17,160 Assets of Cultural Interest (BIC), of which only one in five is located in a provincial capital, and six out of ten municipalities have at least one BIC. However, when analyzing cultural services (cinemas, museums, performing venues and libraries), the concentration changes: around 40% of these spaces are located in provincial capitals; Only 13% of municipalities have at least one cinema or museum, and only 3% have both. Furthermore, around six out of ten municipalities do not have any libraries.