On Saturday 13 February 2016, DACS will join artists across the UK in celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Artist's Resale Right (ARR). To mark this important milestone, DACS has published a white paper providing a snapshot of ARR over the past ten years.
"A critical cornerstone of Britain’s cultural sustainability"
The Artist's Resale Right (ARR) was introduced in the UK on 13 February 2006, after years of campaigning by artists and the arts community. The right entitles artists and their estates to a modest royalty whenever their work is resold by an auctioneer, dealer or gallery for €1,000 or more.
Since 2006, DACS has distributed £46.9 million in resale royalties to more than 3,900 artists and artists’ estates - making it one of the most significant sources of funding for the visuals arts today. With the UK art market worth approximately £9 billion, it ensures money goes back to the artists at the coalface of the arts industry.
Our Chief Executive, Gilane Tawadros, said: “ARR has had a phenomenal impact on artists and estates. At a time when funding for artists is becoming scarcer, ARR ensures that artists receive fair compensation when their work is resold. Celebrating the ARR 10
th anniversary is an important milestone, not least because it has also provided estates invaluable support towards managing an artist’s legacy. ARR is a critical cornerstone of Britain’s cultural sustainability.”
The artist Jeremy Deller said: “Whenever something like this starts, people say ‘it’s going to end the art world, it’s going to be terrible’ but it never happens. The art world just carries on and gets bigger and bigger. It’s important for artists to benefit from the sale of their work. A lot of people do very well out of the art market and obviously the artists aren’t always the ones doing that.”
Beverley Heath-Hoyland, who runs the estate of her late husband, the artist John Hoyland, said: “ARR was important to John. If a musician makes a record, they get royalties when it’s played again and again. It’s right that artists and their estates should get paid when somebody buys a painting at auction. The royalties which are collected by DACS are vital as it helps to run the artist estate so that the work continues to be alive in the world for future generations to enjoy."
Read more quotes from our members
Download our white paper
To mark the anniversary, we've published
Ten Years of the Artist’s Resale Right: Giving Artists Their Fair Share, a white paper featuring fascinating facts and figures about ARR, shareable infographics and interesting anecdotes from our members.
We highlight the crucial role of ARR in supporting the livelihoods of artists and estates, and look ahead to some of the challenges it faces in an increasingly global and digital art market.
Download our white paper
Write to your MP
To celebrate the anniversary of ARR, help us raise awareness and highlight its crucial role in supporting the livelihoods of artists and estates.
Write to your MP and ask them to pledge their support for the Artist's Resale Right, to help secure its future in the UK.
Read our guidance here.
You can also follow our campaign at
@DACSforArtists and
Facebook.com/DACSforArtists using
#21stCenturyArtist, and tell us what ARR means to you. Visit our dedicated campaign page to download our shareable infographics, white paper and more.
Find out more and take part
Image: Beverley Heath-Hoyland, Estate of John Hoyland. Photograph by Brian Benson © Brian Benson, 2016.