British artists will now earn new royalties when their artwork is
resold in New Zealand, thanks to new arrangements introduced
today.
The UK exported around £2 million of goods in the art sector to
New Zealand in 2021.
The new rules mean that UK artists will be able to claim resale
royalties under the Artist's Resale Right (ARR) each time their
art - such as paintings, sculpture, prints, photographs - is
resold through the New Zealand professional art market. The
ARR provides additional income for visual artists by ensuring the
artist is entitled to a royalty that reflects a portion of the
original work's value each time it is resold.
This can provide a vital income stream for artists. According to
the Alliance for IP, UK artists earn on average £5,000 a year in
royalties, with over 80% using their ARR for living expenses and
art materials.
Around £12.4 million was paid in resale royalties in 2022 under
the ARR in 2022. Since the ARR was first introduced in the UK in
2006, over £120 million has been paid to over 6,000 artists and
their heirs.
Trade Minister said:
Resale royalties are an important income stream for our talented
British artists, helping them continue to produce art and
showcase it in homes and galleries around the world.
It's welcome news that, under the terms of our trade deal, they
will now also be able to claim royalties when their art is resold
in New Zealand. With UK art exports to New Zealand reaching over
£8 million between 2016 and 2021, this new arrangement will help
boost the income of our world-class creatives.
Minister for Intellectual Property said:
It's great to see this new agreement with New Zealand which will
ensure UK artists make money from their work when it is resold
there.
This agreement shows how innovative trade partnerships can
champion creativity and enhance the impact of the UK's creative
sector.
Chairman of the Artists' Collecting Society Harriet
Bridgeman CBE said:
We at the Artists' Collecting Society are delighted that the
Artist's Resale Right continues to expand internationally. We are
extremely pleased on behalf of the artists and the artists'
estates which we represent that New Zealand has introduced ARR
domestically and has entered a reciprocal agreement with the
UK.
We hope that the expansion of ARR in the UK for Australians and
New Zealanders this year is just the beginning of greater
international recognition of the rights of artists and artists'
estates.
Chief Executive of The Design and Artists Copyright
Society Christian Zimmerman said:
The introduction of the Artist's Resale Right in New Zealand, and
the reciprocal recognition of the right, marks a significant
milestone, building on our successful partnerships within the
European Economic Area and with Australia. It is confirmation
that the need to ensure fair compensation for artists is being
recognised globally.
In our role distributing ARR royalties in the UK, we take pride
in the UK's role in championing these rights. By collaborating
with art market professionals and sister societies worldwide, ARR
is making a significant difference for artists and their
beneficiaries.
Notes to editors:
-
the UK New Zealand FTA entered into force 31 May
2023. At the time of the FTA coming into force, New
Zealand did not have an ARR regime. The UK-NZ FTA obliged NZ to introduce an
ARR scheme within 2 years of the entry into force. New
Zealand has passed legislation for their ARR scheme to apply
from 1 December
-
many creators, such as musicians and authors, earn money by
selling copies or licensing other uses of their works. In the
field of visual art, such as painting and sculpture, the
value is often in the original work rather than in
mass-produced copies of it. ARR seeks to provide additional
support for visual artists by ensuring the artist is entitled
to a royalty reflecting a portion of the original work's
value each time it is resold. The resale right ceases once
copyright protection expires at 70 years following the
artist's death
-
individual artists cannot request resale royalties directly
from the art market professionals involved in the sale of
their work. Art market professionals assign a Collective
Management Organisation (CMO), which
collects and distributes royalties on behalf of artists
-
there are two CMOs for ARR in the UK - the Design &
Artists Copyright Society (DACS) and the
Artists' Collecting Society (ACS). Since ARR was
introduced in the UK in 2006, DACS has paid
over £125 million to over 6,000 artists and, since 2012, to
their heirs. It reported £9.4 million paid in resale
royalties in 2023, while ACS' published figure
was £2.02 million for 2022-23
-
ARR arrangements have been included in a number of Free Trade
Agreements (FTAs)
negotiated since leaving the EU. Most recently, these
reciprocal arrangements were introduced with
Australia on 31 March 2024
-
further information about the Artist's Resale Right,
including how royalties are calculated, is published on
GOV.UK
