Álava opens 2026 grants for independent cultural spaces

The Provincial Council of Álava has opened the 2026 call for grants aimed at independent cultural spaces that support and promote artistic and cultural creation in the Historical Territory of Álava and the enclave of Treviño. The call is approved by Provincial Order 176/2026, of July 1, published in the Official Gazette of the Historical Territory of Álava (BOTHA) number 99, of August 31, 2026, and is addressed to cultural managers and creators in the territory.

The order, signed by the Provincial Deputy for Culture and Sport, Ana María del Val Sancho, and by the acting Director of Culture, Juan José Rojo Bazán, sets a maximum amount of 100,000.00 euros charged to item 70105. G/334700/47900702 “Grants for Independent Cultural Spaces” of the 2026 provincial budget. The call is governed by the general bases of Provincial Decree 50/2019, of November 12, modified by Provincial Decree 7/2021, and by Provincial Regulation 11/2016, of October 19, on Grants of the Historical Territory of Álava.

Purpose and beneficiaries

The purpose is to support private infrastructures and structures intended to house projects for creation, research, mediation, and the promotion of artistic expression, favoring the consolidation of a network of spaces with a perspective of territorial balance. Private natural or legal persons with a registered social and tax address in Álava or the enclave of Treviño who manage a cultural creation space may apply for the aid.

• Spaces dedicated to cultural management, mediation, and consultancy, as well as creation factories, are included.
• Digital platforms, purely exhibition spaces, and those whose main activity is training, tourism, commercial activity, or social insertion are excluded.
• Foundations, neighborhood, youth, or leisure associations, as well as entities with nominative grants of a coinciding purpose, may not apply.

Amounts and eligible expenses

The maximum amount granted to each entity may not exceed 10,000.00 euros, nor exceed 25 percent of the total eligible expenditure, which must be at least 20,000.00 euros. Applications that do not reach a minimum amount of 1,000.00 euros will not be eligible for the grant. The eligible expenditure must have been executed between January 1 and August 30, 2026.

• Personnel costs, utilities, rent, insurance, materials, and professional services are eligible.
• Fees for artistic accompaniment, mediation, and mentoring, as well as communication and dissemination expenses, are also eligible.
• An additional 10 percent for indirect costs is added without the need for justification, as well as VAT when the entity cannot recover it.

Evaluation and deadlines

The grant is awarded through a competitive bidding process, with a maximum scale of 100 points evaluating the quality of the space and its projects, public interest, technical quality, the use of Basque, gender equality, inclusion, and environmental criteria. Only applications obtaining at least 60 points will be subsidized, and a correction factor of 1.15 will be applied to entities based outside of Vitoria-Gasteiz to promote territorial balance.

• The submission period is 15 business days from the publication in the BOTHA.
• Applications are submitted via the electronic office or in person at the General Registry of the Provincial Council and at the Treasury offices of Vitoria-Gasteiz, Laguardia, and Llodio.
• The resolution must be issued within a maximum period of six months from the publication.

The call reinforces public support for the independent cultural fabric of Álava, a key sector for artistic creation and social cohesion in the territory. With a budget of 100,000 euros and criteria that reward track record, uniqueness, and territorial balance, the measure seeks to consolidate a stable network of creation spaces in Álava and the enclave of Treviño.

Source: Official Gazette of the Historical Territory of Álava (BOTHA), no. 99, August 31, 2026, section I - General Assemblies of Álava and Provincial Administration, p. 1 (official reference: 2026-02007, Provincial Order 176/2026).