When, in front of an audience of hundreds of people, I ask those who have made a donation in the last year to La Marató de TV3, who are members of a non-profit organization, or who have contributed to a social cause, a food bank, or research, to raise their hand, fortunately, most do. When I ask: "Who among you is—or wants to be—a patron?", the answer changes. There is a silence.
In Catalonia and Spain, there is a very significant percentage of the population that donates, but almost no one identifies as a patron. And yet, who doesn't enjoy strolling along Passeig de Gràcia and stopping to contemplate the heritage that patrons left as a legacy for future generations? Who would claim that the Sagrada Família has a negative impact on our society? Built, stone by stone, by the effort of hundreds of thousands of people who have been patrons. But, despite everything, the patronage behind it—that invisible and silent economic engine—still lacks social recognition.
At what point, as a society, have we subverted the perception of patronage?
In mature societies, public-private collaboration is often the only way for talent to advance and develop. It would be naive to believe that public administration can sustain all the creativity, social needs, and research that we promote—and even less so in Catalonia, a country innovative by nature and with a resilience capacity far above average. A few months ago, a person from Northern Europe asked me, surprised, where the problem was in finding resources when there is talent. "We—he told me—what we don't have is so much talent; that is indeed a problem."
In Catalonia there is a lot of talent. And we enjoy a legacy that positions us in the world and that has shown us the benefits of patronage. We are direct beneficiaries of its consequences. But when will we be able to feel pride of belonging and collective responsibility? When will we want to be patrons and participate in what this country can become if we contribute resources —to the extent of our possibilities— to boost those people who can take us to another level?
You don't have to be an entrepreneur. You don't have to be a millionaire. You just have to feel the colors and want to be part of an ambitious vision and a will to improve our community, where we live and share who we are and how we are.
"In mature societies, public-private collaboration is often the only way for talent to advance and develop"Meanwhile, at the Fundació Catalunya Cultura we will continue working with all involved sectors so that this contribution and collaboration that we patrons make —this gesture— is recognized and, as far as possible, subsidized.
However, it must be very clear that a patron is not moved by economic return. They are moved by the pleasure and pride of feeling part of a collective improvement, of achieving together what, alone, would never have been possible. To perpetuate an opportunity, respond to a need or leave a legacy.
Think about it. And the next time someone asks you, answer: Yes! I want to be a patron.