Deadline: 3-Jul-25
The Secretary of State for Culture has launched a new grant opportunity focused on the digitalization and preservation of Spain’s bibliographic heritage. This initiative also supports the dissemination of digitized materials through digital repositories, helping ensure long-term accessibility to cultural and historical content.
Preserving bibliographic heritage is essential for protecting collective memory and democratizing access to knowledge. The legal foundation of this initiative is rooted in Spain’s Historical Heritage Law and the Law on Reading, Books, and Libraries, both of which emphasize the state’s responsibility to safeguard historical documents and promote digital libraries. These grants aim to support institutions in transforming physical collections into digital formats, facilitating greater access and conservation.
Each applicant can submit only one proposal, with funding requests capped at €60,000. However, certain expenses will not be eligible for coverage. These include costs related to permanent staff, utilities, travel, publicity, financial fees, and the purchase or maintenance of equipment. Restoration costs of the materials to be digitized and expenses linked to events such as exhibitions or conferences are also excluded.
Eligible applicants include public universities, autonomous communities and their affiliated organizations, local authorities, and private non-profit entities with Spanish nationality or registered in EU or EEA countries, provided they have tax residency in Spain. Only the first application submitted by any entity will be considered. Organizations with legal restrictions, outstanding subsidy repayments, or ineligibility under Spain’s General Subsidies Law are not allowed to apply.
Applicants are required to provide a series of formal documents with their submissions. These include tax identification documentation, legal statutes, certificates of registration, and proof of legal representation. Additionally, they must submit declarations confirming they are not subject to legal prohibitions, are compliant with tax and social security regulations, and meet transparency obligations under Spanish law. Applicants must also confirm that the materials intended for digitization are in the public domain, or that they hold the necessary rights for use, supported by legal documentation.
This grant scheme presents a significant opportunity for cultural institutions and nonprofits to play a leading role in preserving Spain’s literary and documentary legacy through digital innovation.
For more information, visit Ministry of Culture.