The Ministry of Culture (MC) is the department of the Government of Spain responsible for the promotion, protection and dissemination of the Spanish historical heritage, national museums, art, books, reading and literary creation, of cinematographic and audiovisual activities and of national archives and libraries.

From the beginning of the century and promoted by the Crown, it appeared the first Royal Academies such as the Language (1713), History (1738) or Fine Arts (1752), all of them dependent from the Secretariat of State.

The Budget Act of 1900 created the Ministry of Public Instruction and Fine Arts[7] which assumed the responsibilities on culture until 1977.

During this period, the Directorate-General for Fine Arts was created in 1915[8] which had competences on civil constructions related to National Monuments, Museums, Artistic Schools, Painting, Music Schools and other entities of an artistic nature[9] and in 1939 it was created the Directorate-General for Archives and Libraries.

[11] The final structure established nine general directions: Artistic Heritage, Archives and Museums; Cultural Diffusion; Books and Libraries; Music Theater and Shows; Cinematography; Community Development; Youth; and Broadcasting and Television.