In Spain, the Ministry of Culture has come under fire for delaying payments to around 95 beneficiaries of two scholarship programs, Culturex and FormARTE. These payments, which were due in December and January, have not been executed as of February 20. The affected beneficiaries include cultural managers, restorers, museologists, and archivists who have expressed frustration over the lack of communication and the continuous delays in payments, which are critical for their livelihood.

The delay in funds has raised concerns about the Ministry's effectiveness in managing cultural support programs, particularly since the initial emails to scholarship recipients indicated that payments would be made promptly. Many of the beneficiaries have echoed sentiments of disappointment, labeling the situation as negligence and a lack of empathy from the Ministry. The current management, under Minister Ernest Urtasun, has yet to provide a satisfactory explanation for the payment issues, raising questions about the leadership within the ministry.

Additionally, it has been reported that the ministry is seeking to hire a firm to conduct a €330,000 study on inequalities in culture due to a lack of specialized staff. This action has further fueled concerns about prioritization within the department, as resources appear to be allocated elsewhere despite the pressing needs of cultural professionals relying on timely scholarship payments. This situation may highlight broader systemic issues within Spain's cultural policy and funding mechanisms, necessitating a review and potential reform to better support those in the sector.