Performing arts producers are defined as any type of public or private organisation, based in the Basque Country, under whose initiative and responsibility any genre of stage production is produced. The following criteria have been established in order to conduct the census:

• Only professional producers have been taken into consideration, excluding all amateur organisations. 'Professional' is understood to mean those for whom stage production is a regular paid activity that constitutes their main source of income.
• Producers have only been taken into consideration if they have produced or made use of a production during the last two years at the very least (2010-2011) and who produced a minimum of 6 shows in 2011.