Spain's Culture Minister orders review of national museums to tackle colonial legacy

Urtasun to review national museums to move past colonial frameworks

The Minister of Culture, Ernest Urtasun, has ordered the 17 national museums under the Government of Spain to review their collections and adapt their curatorial narratives to "overcome a colonial framework or one anchored in gender or ethnocentric biases that have hindered the vision of heritage, history, and artistic legacy." He made this announcement during his first appearance before the Culture Commission of the Congress of Deputies, where he also announced the creation of a Dirección General de Derechos Culturales (General Directorate of Cultural Rights) to combat censorship. The measure affects institutions such as the Museo del Prado, the Reina Sofía, and the Museo de América, sparking intense debate over the role of art and historical memory.

What exactly did the Culture Minister announce?

Urtasun presented his priorities to Congress: a review of national museums to move past colonial frameworks, the creation of a Dirección General de Derechos Culturales to fight "censorship," and a ten-year plan including equality, equitable access to culture, the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, and tax improvements for patronage. He also promised to finalize laws regarding cinema and heritage, and to provide preferential treatment to Asturian and Aragonese language academies. In his speech, the minister spoke of "establishing spaces for dialogue and exchange that allow us to move past this colonial framework," noting that this review is a commitment signed in international agreements. He did not clarify if the Museo del Prado would specifically need to comply with this criterion, although he spoke highly of its leadership.

The Prado and Reina Sofía under scrutiny

The announcement has placed the spotlight on major art galleries. The Museo Reina Sofía had already incorporated decolonization discourse during Manuel Borja-Villel's tenure, and the current director, Manuel Segade, has embraced this argument. Regarding the Prado, an official from a national museum explained to EL MUNDO that they are unaware of any decolonizing instructions issued by the Government for their institution. In their view, the minister's words are focused on the Museo de América in Madrid and the Quimbaya treasure, a collection of pre-Columbian pieces gifted by the Republic of Colombia to the regent María Cristina. Colombia has since requested the return of the treasure, but the use of the term "colonial looting" does not seem accurate, nor does the comparison to the Belgian Congo made by Urtasun in an interview.

Political reactions: accusations of ideology and propaganda

The opposition was quick to respond. Sol Cruz Guzmán, from the PP (People's Party), asked the minister to "set ideology aside." VOX representative Joaquín Robles called him a "minister of agitation and propaganda." Critics argue that the new Dirección General de Derechos Culturales might focus more on ideological action than executive management. Urtasun defended his position, stating that "cultural creation and production are undergoing a historical moment of change in which censorship and political interference are gaining ground in public cultural management," and promised to support any creator whose work has been erased or censored from the public sphere.

The debate over looting and Spanish heritage

The comparison with the Belgian Congo and the use of the term "colonial looting" have sparked intense debate. An article in EL MUNDO argues that Spain never had colonies but rather viceroyalties, and that the Quimbaya treasure was a diplomatic gift, not plunder. Some analyses suggest the heritage review is a media strategy, while others defend it as a historical obligation. In forum debates, some have speculated that this is an operation to transfer works to Catalan museums ahead of a hypothetical secession. What is clear is that the announcement has touched a sensitive nerve regarding the relationship between art, history, and politics.

What will happen to the works and the museums?

The minister has not specified which works will be reviewed or how the criteria will be applied. He spoke of "spaces for dialogue" and a ten-year plan, but not of immediate measures. The Dirección General de Derechos Culturales will develop a plan to enforce its cultural policies in the medium term. It remains to be seen whether the Prado will have to adapt its programming or if the review will be limited to museums like the Museo de América. Meanwhile, the debate remains open: is this a necessary review or covert censorship?

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Key facts

• 17 national museums depend on the Government of Spain.
• Urtasun's plan will be implemented over "a decade."
• The Quimbaya treasure was a gift from Colombia to the regent María Cristina.
• The Dirección General de Derechos Culturales will be created to combat censorship.