Public procurement in culture: how to limit damage from low bids?

Public sector is a major client for cultural businesses, which participate in tenders evaluated on technical quality and price. Despite efforts to weight quality more, the economic criterion often leads to very low profit margins, weakening the industry. Firms still bid to increase turnover for access to larger contracts, political relevance, or better credit positions. The author proposes a mechanism: if a bid offers below-threshold margins, the administration commits to advance payment. This would create a trade-off, discouraging excessive discounts and encouraging credible offers. The article argues that discussing such improvements is crucial for the sector's health.