2022 NAICS national industry in sector 71 Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
711510 Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers
NAICS 711510 is the US industry code for independent artists, writers, and performers. It covers independent (i.e., freelance) individuals primarily engaged in performing in artistic productions, in creating artistic and cultural works or productions, or in providing technical expertise necessary for these productions.
- Code
- 711510 (2022 NAICS)
- Title
- Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers
- Part of
- Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers
- SBA small business limit
- Average annual receipts up to $9 million
- Closest UK SIC
- 33190, 74201, 74202, 74203 and 1 more (details)
Changes coming. The NAICS 2027 revision applies to data from 1 January 2027, and SBA proposed new size standards on 20 August 2026. The values on this page are the ones in force today; we update this page when the official files change.
Official definition
This industry comprises independent (i.e., freelance) individuals primarily engaged in performing in artistic productions, in creating artistic and cultural works or productions, or in providing technical expertise necessary for these productions. This industry also includes athletes and other celebrities exclusively engaged in endorsing products and making speeches or public appearances for which they receive a fee.
Examples Census gives
- Independent actors or actresses
- Independent producers
- Independent art restorers
- Independent recording technicians
- Independent artists (except musical, commercial, medical)
- Independent speakers
- Independent cartoonists
- Independent theatrical costume designers
- Independent dancers
- Independent theatrical lighting technicians
- Independent journalists
- Independent technical writers
When to use a different code
Census classifies these close-sounding activities somewhere else. Businesses mainly engaged in:
- Freelance musicians and vocalists are classified in Industry 711130, Musical Groups and Artists.
- Independent commercial artists, medical illustrators, and graphic designers are classified in Industry 541430, Graphic Design Services.
- Artisans and craftspersons are classified in Sector 31-33, Manufacturing.
Businesses that use this code
Activities listed under 711510
The Census index assigns these 80 activities to this code. If your business matches one, this is your code.
- Actors, independent
- Actresses, independent
- Animated cartoon artists, independent
- Announcers, independent radio and television
- Art restorers, independent
- Artists (except musical, commercial, medical), independent
- Artists (i.e., painters), independent
- Authors, independent
- Ballet dancers, independent
- Cameramen, independent (freelance)
- Cartoonists, independent
- Celebrity spokespersons, independent
- Choreographers, independent
- Cinematographers, independent
- Comedians, independent
- Composers, independent
- Conductors, independent
- Conservators (i.e., art, artifact restorers), independent
- Costume designers, independent theatrical
- Dancers, independent
- Directors (i.e., film, motion picture, music, theatrical), independent
- Directors, independent motion picture
- Directors, independent music
- Disc jockeys, independent
- Entertainers, independent
- Ethnic dancers, independent
- Film actors, independent
- Film producers, independent
- Folk dancers, independent
- Ghost writers, independent
- Independent museum exhibit designers
- Independent technical writers
- Interpretive dancers, independent
- Jazz dancers, independent
- Journalists, independent (freelance)
- Lecturers, independent
- Lighting technicians, theatrical, independent
- Magicians, independent
- Models, independent
- Motion picture directors, independent
- Motion picture producers, independent
- Motivational speakers, independent
- Music arrangers, independent
- Music directors, independent
- News correspondents, independent (freelance)
- Newspaper columnists, independent (freelance)
- Orchestra conductors, independent
- Painters (i.e., artists), independent
- Painting restorers, independent
- Performers (i.e., entertainers), independent
- Performing artists, independent
- Photographers, independent artistic
- Photojournalists, independent (freelance)
- Playwrights, independent
- Poets, independent
- Political cartoonists, independent
- Producers, independent
- Radio commentators, independent
- Record producers, independent
- Recording technicians, independent
- Reporters, independent (freelance)
- Scenery designers, independent theatrical
- Screenplay writers, independent
- Script writers, independent
- Sculptors, independent
- Set designers, independent theatrical
- Sketch artists, independent
- Song writers, independent
- Speakers, independent
- Special effect technicians, independent
- Sports announcers, independent
- Stage set (e.g., concert, motion picture, television) erecting and dismantling, independent
- Standup comedians, independent
- Storytellers, independent
- Taxidermists, independent
- Technical writers, independent
- Television producers, independent
- Wildlife artists, independent
- Writers of advertising copy, independent
- Writers, independent (freelance)
SBA size standard for 711510
To count as a small business for SBA loans and federal contracts under NAICS 711510, your business (including affiliates) must not exceed $9 million in average annual receipts. Check your business.
Source: SBA table of size standards, effective March 17, 2023.
Closest UK SIC 2007 codes
There is no official one-to-one link between NAICS and UK SIC. These codes share the same international class (ISIC Rev. 4: 3290, 3319, 7420, 9000), so treat them as a starting point and check the definition.
- 33190Repair of other equipmentUK SIC
- 74201Portrait photographic activitiesUK SIC
- 74202Other specialist photographyUK SIC
- 74203Film processingUK SIC
- 74209Photographic activities not elsewhere classifiedUK SIC
Built from Census concordances 2022→2017 NAICS and 2017 NAICS→ISIC Rev. 4.
Data last changed November 14, 2026. How this page is built.