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1. Developing entrepreneurial skills through cultural activities

2. Support young entrepreneurs in the cultural and creative sectors

Developing entrepreneurial skills through cultural activities

The annual INJUVE Youth Creation Programme (Programa Creación Joven) is a key national instrument supporting the professionalisation and entrepreneurship of young artists (18–35 years). Established in 2011, it promotes contemporary creation across disciplines including performing arts, visual arts, comics and illustration, design, literature, and music, connecting young creators with audiences, institutions and professionals.

Under this framework, the most recent INUJVE Grants for Young Creators 2025-2026 (Ayudas Injuve para la Creación Joven 2025-2026) provide subsidies for young creators up to 30 years old (and up to 35 for entrepreneurial projects) to carry out research, production, mobility, entrepreneurship, and curatorial projects during 2026. It maintains five lines of action:

• Research (18–30 years) – up to €3,000 for project-related investigation, development, or theoretical or practical experimentation.
• Production (18–30 years) – up to €5,000 for the execution of artistic works of any format or technique.
• Mobility (18–30 years) – up to €5,000 for national or international mobility of works or creators to participate in exhibitions, festivals, tours or residencies.
• Amadís Gallery curatorship (18–30 years) – up to €7,000 for exhibition curation, workshops or emerging-creation activities in INJUVE’s own space, the Amadís Gallery (Sala Amadís), dedicated to showcasing and supporting young creators. The gallery also hosts the annual INJUVE Performing Arts Showcases (Muestras Escénicas INJUVE), where emerging theatre and dance companies present their work, receive mentoring and gain professional visibility.
• Entrepreneurship for Young Creation (18–35 years) – up to €10,000 for launching or consolidating cultural entrepreneurship projects.

The programme particularly encourages digital-culture and sustainability-oriented proposals, contributing to the modernisation of Spain’s creative and cultural industries.

In addition, INJUVE compiles and promotes national and international youth cultural awards and contests through its Calls and Awards Portal (Portal de Convocatorias y Premios, providing a centralised reference point for opportunities in art, design, music and cultural innovation.

In parallel, the Princess of Girona Foundation Awards (Premio Princesa de Girona – FPdGi) complement these efforts by promoting cultural and creative entrepreneurship. Created in 2009 with the support of the Royal House and the private sector, the Foundation honours young people aged 16–35 for achievements in several categories: Arts and Letters, Social, Scientific Research, Business and International Award. The Arts and Letters category explicitly recognises cultural entrepreneurship and innovation among young creators. 

In 2025, the Foundation continues its Talent Tour, a travelling event in five Spanish cities offering workshops, mentoring and networking to develop youth entrepreneurial and creative skills. It also maintains the AmplificARTE programme, which equips teachers to work with students on emotional intelligence through art.

Other recent publicly funded initiatives reinforcing entrepreneurship through cultural activities include Ayudas para la acción y promoción cultural, Red de Residencias Creativas Iniciarte and Programme Becas FormARTE (2025), detailed in Chapter 8.5.

Support young entrepreneurs in the cultural and creative sectors

​The annual National Youth Awards (Premios Nacionales de Juventud) managed by INJUVE, annually recognise young people (under 30 years) whose work in fields such as social commitment, culture, environment, sports, science & technology, and human rights contributes to social progress. The Culture category specifically rewards the use of artistic disciplines to transmit values and foster creativity. The 2024 edition maintains six awards of €5,000 each (total budget €30,000).

At regional level, complementary programmes such as Iniciarte (Andalusia) and Nau Côclea Residencies (Catalonia) (see Chapter 8.5) provide mentoring and professional-development spaces for young cultural entrepreneurs, reinforcing the national framework of youth-creative support.