The Madrid City Council has approved a budget of €835,000 for a new grant programme aimed at supporting performing arts producers based in the city. This initiative is part of the council's ongoing commitment to bolster the cultural fabric of Madrid.
The grants, which will be available for the 2027 financial year, will be awarded through a competitive process and are designed to assist theatre, circus, dance, and puppet companies. The funding will be split, with €675,000 allocated to private companies and €160,000 to non-profit organisations.
New features for enhanced accessibility
This year's grant programme introduces several changes to increase flexibility and improve accessibility for productions. Notably, the restrictions on rental expenses and hiring of freelance and self-employed staff have been lifted, allowing companies greater freedom in managing their budgets according to operational needs.
Additionally, the criteria for scoring exhibitions have been adjusted. For performances held in Madrid, companies will now achieve the maximum score of 30 points with just 75 shows, down from the previous requirement of over 150. For shows performed elsewhere in Spain or abroad, the threshold has been lowered to 50 exhibitions for a maximum of 20 points, compared to the previous requirement of over 100.
Another significant addition is the inclusion of new eligible expenses aimed at financing services and infrastructure for universal accessibility, such as sign language interpretation, subtitling, and hearing loops.
Eligibility and requirements
The grants are open to both private entities—individuals or legal entities—and non-profit organisations that produce performing arts shows and are registered in Madrid. The eligible period for funding will run from 1 January to 31 December 2027.
To qualify, legal entities must explicitly include performing arts in their corporate purpose, while individuals must be registered under relevant economic activity codes related to the performing arts. The application process has also been streamlined, with one of the administrative annexes removed to simplify documentation.
