What Scène nationale does

The Scène nationale du Sud-Aquitain is a public cultural establishment (Établissement Public de Coopération Culturelle, EPCC) headquartered in Bayonne, France, operating as a multidisciplinary performing arts venue serving the French Basque Country. It presents more than 50 shows per season spanning theater, dance, music, and circus, distributed across four cities (Bayonne, Anglet, Boucau, and Saint-Jean-de-Luz) and more than eight physical venues. The institution is part of the national network of 78 Scènes nationales holding the official label of the French Ministry of Culture, a designation that confers regulatory legitimacy and access to multi-tiered public subsidy streams. Programming is offered in French, Basque, and Occitan, anchoring the venue in regional linguistic and cultural identity.

The entity was restructured into its current EPCC legal form in 2019, succeeding a prior 1901-law association, with Damien Godet serving as director. Its business model blends public subsidies (drawn from national, regional, departmental, and municipal sources) with earned revenue streams including tiered ticket sales (categories A/B/C at €6 to €34 per seat), annual memberships (adhesions), delegated production services for external artistic teams, coproduction fees from artistic partners, and mécénat (corporate and foundation sponsorship). The institution runs multi-year artist residency programs (Compagnonnage), community outreach initiatives (5e Scène), and a web radio platform, extending its footprint beyond conventional ticketed programming into artist development, social engagement, and digital distribution.

Operationally, the venue serves a diverse audience base including individual theatergoers, school groups, and partner organizations, while sustaining relationships with local creators and cross-border cultural institutions via the Pyrenart II Franco-Spanish cooperation program. The model is therefore that of a hybrid public-service cultural enterprise — nonprofit in legal form, mission-driven in operations, and subsidy-anchored in revenue — rather than a commercially scaled entertainment business.

Name

Scène nationale

Legal name

Établissement Public de Coopération Culturelle du Sud-Aquitain

Website

https://scenenationale.fr

Company type

Public

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Scène nationale du Sud-Aquitain is a publicly funded performing arts venue presenting more than 50 multidisciplinary shows annually across four French Basque Country cities, while supporting artistic creation, community outreach, and cross-border cultural cooperation under the French Ministry of Culture's national label.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Services

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB), Performing Arts (Acting, Improv, Theater) (EDAAAGAE)

Keywords

• Performing arts venue
• Live performance programming
• Artistic creation support
• Cultural outreach programs
• Subscription ticketing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bayonne

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket sales and subscriptions: Revenue from individual show tickets, adhesion cards, and multi-show passes (Pass Liberté, Pass Complicité) providing access to season programming across 4 venues
2. Government and institutional subsidies: Core funding from Ministry of Culture/DRAC Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Département des Pyrénées-Atlantiques, and municipalities of Bayonne, Anglet, Boucau, and Saint-Jean-de-Luz, plus Communauté d'Agglomération Pays Basque and EU (POCTEFA)
3. Coproduction and production delegation services: Financial support to artistic productions (10% of artistic budget), delegated production services for emerging companies
4. Mécénat (Patronage): Support from private patrons including Poterie Goicoechea, Truite de Banka, and website developer Novaldi

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Scène nationale du Sud-Aquitain operates as a multidisciplinary performing arts center presenting 50+ live performances per season across theater, dance, music, and circus disciplines. The institution supports artistic creation through long-term compagnonnage residencies (3+ years), coproduction financing (10% of artistic budget), and delegated production services for emerging companies, while extending cultural reach through its 5e Scène community outreach program into schools, hospitals, prisons, and community spaces.

Product overview

Scène nationale du Sud-Aquitain operates as a multidisciplinary performing arts center (scène nationale) offering live performances across theater, dance, music, and circus disciplines. The institution manages multiple venues across four cities (Bayonne, Anglet, Boucau, and Saint-Jean-de-Luz) and provides ticketing services, membership programs, and community outreach through its '5e Scène' initiative. The core offering consists of programming and presenting professional performing arts productions, supporting artistic creation through coproduction and delegated production arrangements, and fostering public engagement through educational and community programs. The institution functions as an EPCC (Établissement Public de Coopération Culturelle) and is part of a network of 78 national scenes in France.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Live Performance Programming Season programming of over 50 annual performances across theater, dance, music, and circus disciplines presented at multiple venues (Théâtre Michel Portal Bayonne, Théâtre Quintaou Anglet, Salle Tanka Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Salle Apollo Boucau, Salle Lauga). Open to the general public through ticketing and adhesion cards.
• Artist Support Programs (Compagnonnage) Long-term artistic partnership programs lasting at least three years, supporting companion artists with production assistance, residency periods, and cultural outreach activities. Designed for performing arts companies seeking extended collaboration and venue access.
• Coproduction Services Financial support for artistic creation projects, with approximately 10% of artistic budget allocated to coproduction contributions supporting new works. The institution supported 13 productions this season, including 7 from Nouvelle-Aquitaine region companies.
• Delegated Production Since the 21/22 season, provides full production management including financial mounting, technical support, logistics, and touring communication for emerging companies. Targets performing arts companies requiring professional production infrastructure.
• 5e Scène (Community Outreach) Itinerant artistic program connecting artists with inhabitants through schools, libraries, cinemas, hospitals, and prisons, extending live performance beyond traditional venues. Targets community and institutionalized populations across the Basque Country.
• Membership Cards and Passes Annual membership cards providing discounted access to performances, with various tiers including full-price (€15), partner organization (€10), and solidarity (free for eligible beneficiaries). Grants access to reduced 'adhérent' ticket rates across the season.
• PASS Liberté and PASS Complicité Subscription packages offering 10 (Pass Liberté, €180) or 6 (Pass Complicité, €72) pre-selected performances at discounted rates with complimentary membership benefits included. Designed for regular attendees seeking season-long engagement.
• Gift Vouchers (Billets cadeau) Flexible-value gift tickets valid for all performances throughout the season, available at all venue box offices. Allows purchasers to choose their own amount for gifting purposes.
• Accessibility Services Accommodation services for disabled audiences including wheelchair access, hearing loop systems, audio description, and priority seating. Ensures inclusive access to performing arts for audiences with disabilities.
• Pyrenart II (Cross-border Program) Interreg POCTEFA 2021-2027 funded cross-border cultural cooperation project supporting artistic entrepreneurship and performing arts exchanges between France and Spain. 65% EU co-financed through POCTEFA program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50+ shows per season across 4 cities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pyrenart II Consortium (Interreg POCTEFA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2024Cross-border cooperation project (65% EU co-financed through POCTEFA 2021-2027) bringing together French and Spanish performing arts producers, promoters, venues, agencies, and cultural operators to strengthen the performing arts sector through transborder collaboration, incubation support for artistic entrepreneurs, and innovative economic/gov models.
• Occitanie en scènecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench partner and lead coordinator of Pyrenart II project, representing Occitanie region's performing arts network
• ThéâtredelaCité – CDN Toulouse OccitanieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench Pyrenart II partner - CDN (Centre Dramatique National) in Toulouse
• La Grainerie – Fabrique des arts du cirque et de l'itinéranceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench Pyrenart II partner - circus and itinerant arts production support structure
• L'Estive – Scène nationale de Foix et de l'AriègeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench Pyrenart II partner - fellow Scène nationale in Occitanie region
• Le Parvis – Scène nationale Tarbes PyrénéesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench Pyrenart II partner - fellow Scène nationale in the Pyrenees region
• Communauté d'agglomération Pau Béarn PyrénéesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench Pyrenart II partner - intercommunal structure in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
• Dantzaz (Pays Basque, Spain)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish Pyrenart II partner - Basque Country dance company and cultural operator
• Bito Productions S.L. – Festival Temporada AltaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish Pyrenart II partner - Festival Temporada Alta production company (Catalonia)
• Basque District of Culture and CreativityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish Pyrenart II partner - Basque Country cultural development organization
• Conservatoire du Pays Basque Maurice RavelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecific partnership for artistic encounters, workshops, and stages between amateur and professional artists, fostering musical education exchange
• Ministry of Culture / DRAC Nouvelle-AquitainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational government ministry providing core funding and official 'Scène nationale' label recognition
• Région Nouvelle-AquitainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional council providing institutional funding and support to the EPCC cultural establishment
• Département des Pyrénées-AtlantiquescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDepartmental council providing institutional funding and support
• Communauté d'Agglomération Pays BasquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgglomeration community providing additional financial support to the cultural establishment
• Partner cultural organizations (Adhesion reciprocity)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerReciprocal adhesion arrangements with Malandain Ballet Biarritz, Orchestre du Pays Basque, Cinéma l'Atalante, Complicité Chimères, Festival Biarritz Amérique Latine, École supérieure d'art Pays Basque, Société des Amis du Musée Bonnat-Helleu, Tanka Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Mendi Zolan Hendaye, Atabal Biarritz
• Service pénitentiaire d'insertion et de probation des Pyrénées-AtlantiquesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrison system partnership (Culture/Justice program) for artistic projects with detained individuals including musical conferences, writing workshops, and theater expression

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Le Parvis - Scène nationale Tarbes Pyrénées: Scène nationale in the Pyrenees sharing the same Ministry of Culture label and a Pyrenart II cross-border partnership with the SNSA. Comparable operating model, funding structure, and bilingual Pyrenean cultural positioning.
• L'Estive - Scène nationale de Foix et de l'Ariège: Scène nationale in Ariège (Occitanie) sharing the same national label and Pyrenart II partnership. Similar scale, multidisciplinary programming, and rural/territorial cultural mission.
• Théâtre de la Cité - CDN Toulouse Occitanie: Centre Dramatique National in Toulouse, a Pyrenart II partner. Presents contemporary theater and creation with comparable public funding and co-production models.
• Théâtre National de Bordeaux Aquitaine (Tnba): National theater (CDN) in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, presenting a similar mix of theater, dance, and contemporary creation with comparable public funding structures. Direct regional peer within the same administrative region.
• La Grainerie - Fabrique des arts du cirque et de l'itinérance: Production support structure for circus and itinerant arts, member of the Pyrenart II consortium. Overlaps with the SNSA on circus programming and itinerant deployment.

Broad incumbents

• Odéon - Théâtre de l'Europe: National theater in Paris with European programming scope. Comparable public funding model and contemporary creation focus, but at a significantly larger scale and brand prestige.
• Théâtre de la Ville: Paris-based performing arts venue presenting dance, theater, and contemporary creation with a public-service mission analogous to Scènes nationales. Overlaps in mission but operates at a much larger scale in a major capital.
• Théâtre National Populaire (TNP) Villeurbanne: National theater (TNP) in Lyon metro area with similar public-service programming mandate but much larger scale, broader national reach, and a more internationally recognized brand.

Emerging players

• Orchestre du Pays Basque - Iparraldeko Orkestra: Basque symphony orchestra partner of the SNSA with reciprocal adhesion benefits. Shares territory and audiences, and is featured in the SNSA's season programming (e.g., at Théâtre Michel Portal).
• Malandain Ballet Biarritz: Major ballet company in the Basque Country with a reciprocal adhesion partnership with the SNSA. Comparable audiences and programmatic overlap but a producing company rather than a presenting venue.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sc%C3%A8ne-nationale

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Scène nationale