NACE 90 – Creative, Arts and Entertainment Activities | Public Tenders
NACE 90: Creative and artistic activities in public tenders. Cultural events, CPV codes and contracting authorities for the cultural sector.
Definition: NACE 90 covers creative, artistic and entertainment activities such as theatre performances, concerts, opera, dance, circus performances as well as the activities of artists, musicians, authors and actors. Public cultural institutions are significant contracting authorities in this area.
What does NACE 90 cover?
NACE 90 (Creative, arts and entertainment activities) classifies theatres, concert agencies, event organisers and self-employed artists — an area with specific procurement rules and substantial public cultural funding needs.
| Group | Title | Typical services |
|---|---|---|
| 90.0 | Creative, arts and entertainment activities | Theatre, concerts, opera, dance, circus, self-employed artists |
Public Tenders – Cultural events and artistic services
Cities, municipalities and public cultural institutions award services for cultural events, artistic productions and exhibition design in competitive procedures.
Typical types of contract
- Event production: Stage design, costume fit-out, lighting technology for public theatres and opera houses
- Cultural events and festivals: Organisation and delivery of public cultural festivals, city festivals
- Artistic teaching and workshop services: Cultural mediation, museum tours, school projects
- Music productions: Recording and production for public broadcasters
- Stage and theatre equipment: Stage construction, props, costumes for municipal stages
Relevant CPV codes
| CPV code | Title | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| 92000000 | Recreational, cultural and sporting services | Cultural services in general |
| 92100000 | Motion picture and video services | Cinema, film screening |
| 92300000 | Entertainment services | Events, shows, concerts |
| 92310000 | Services provided by artistic and literary creation establishments | Theatre performances, concerts |
| 92312000 | Artistic services | Actors, musicians, dancers |
| 79952000 | Event services | Event management |
Contracting authorities
Typical contracting authorities under NACE 90 are:
- Municipal theatres and opera houses: Equipment, technology, external productions
- Cities and municipalities: City festivals, cultural festivals, public cultural events
- Public broadcasters: ORF, ARD, ZDF — production contracts, music rights
- Culture ministries and cultural authorities: Arts funding, guest performance contracts
- Museums and cultural centres: Exhibition design, cultural mediation, event programme
FAQ
Can individual artists receive public contracts? Yes — individual artists and freelancers can also participate in public tenders. As copyright plays an important role, artistic services are frequently awarded as service contracts or special services in which the author can be designated directly.
Does the full procurement regime apply to theatre services? Artistic services fall under "special services" under Annex XIV of Directive 2014/24/EU (threshold EUR 750,000). Below that, national rules apply. For clearly identifiable artistic services, the negotiated procedure without prior publication may also be considered.
- NACE R – Arts, Entertainment and Recreation: Parent section
- NACE 90.0 – Creative activities: Sole group
- NACE 91 – Libraries, museums: Related division cultural institutions
- NACE 93 – Sports and recreation: Related division
Last updated: January 2026
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