We speak to An Vrombaut, illustrator, author and creator of animated children’s TV programme 64 Zoo Lane, about Dutch PLR - our scheme through which visual artists can claim royalties for the lending of books featuring their work by libraries in the Netherlands.
Can you tell us a bit about your work?
I work both in publishing and television: as an author/illustrator of picture books and creator of animated TV series.
Why should artists sign up for Dutch PLR royalties?
Because you’re entitled to royalties your work generates abroad. And it’s also rewarding to know that your work is being enjoyed overseas. I hope that DACS will start to receive PLR royalties from other countries in the future.
What did you spend your last Dutch PLR royalty on?
I haven’t spent it on anything specific, but it will allow me to take time to develop something new now.
Do you have any tips for first-time applicants?
If you’re not sure whether your books have been published in the Netherlands, check with your publisher. Or try googling your name on
www.google.nl: click ‘Nederlands’ to select the Dutch language version of Google, then ‘Zoekhulpmiddelen’ and set the country to ‘Nederland’ and language to ‘Pagina’s geschreven in het Nederlands’. Don’t forget that you can even claim for books that are out of print because they can still be borrowed in libraries.
What do you have coming up that we should know about?
I have just finished an animated short film. It’s called
THE TIE and it’s the first CG animation I’ve done. Trying to get the desired look was the hardest as I didn’t want the typical CG style, but something more painterly.
Find out more about An Vrombaut: visit her website, or find her on Twitter and Facebook.
Don’t miss the deadline to claim your share of this year’s Dutch PLR royalties! Apply by Wednesday 6 January 2016. Find out more.
Illustration from 'The Dragon Festival', by An Vrombaut © An Vrombaut. Image courtesy of the Artist.