Catalonia, since the 1979 agreement on its status (Estatut d'Autonomia de Catalunya), has exclusive expertise in the field of culture.

The activities of the Catalonia Generalitat are carried out through governmental functions - executive, legislative and administrative. The cultural entity of the Catalonia Generalitat Government is the Department of Culture, endowed with a General Cultural Heritage Directorate. The Department of Culture also manages the National Archives of Catalonia, the Catalonia Library, the Catalonia National Museum, the Catalonia Archaeological Museum, the Catalonia Science and Technology Museum and the National Archaeological Museum of Tarragona. Finally, the Catalonia National Art Museum and the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art are managed by public administration consortiums, which also include the Department of Culture.

The General Cultural Heritage Directorate's role consists of conserving, protecting, documenting and creating awareness about Catalonia's cultural heritage. It is composed of a General Cultural Heritage Sub-Directorate, a Monument Management Bureau and the Cultural Heritage Management Department. The Sub-Directorate manages the following departments:
The Architectural Heritage Department, with the function of conserving, protecting, documenting and creating awareness about Catalonia's architectural heritage.

The Department of Archeology, with the function of supervising Catalonia's archaeological heritage and stimulating research and dissemination.
The Department of Museums, with the function of supervising the application of legislation concerning museums, in the fields of protection, conservation, documentation and dissemination of movable cultural goods that are not dealt with by the Department of Culture.

The Department of Restoration of Movable Property, with the function of conserving and restoring Catalonia's movable cultural heritage.
The Archives Department, with the function of seeing to the constitution, protection and safeguard of Catalonia's documentary heritage and archives.
The Department of Libraries and Bibliographical Heritage, with the function of helping and cooperating with the libraries of the Public Reading System, and encouraging the promotion of public libraries.

Finally, the General Cultural Heritage Directorate is also endowed with Monument Management Bureau and a Cultural Heritage Management Department.