Over the summer more than 500 artists and estates responded to our consultation on key decisions being considered by our Board to ensure greater transparency, accountability and participation by the visual artists and estates we represent. We report on the outcomes.
Voting rights for members
We found that the artists and estates who responded to
our stakeholder consultation supported the proposed governance changes which arose from our governance review undertaken in 2013.
As a result, we will be introducing voting rights for members in order to give them a greater say in how we are run.
Our Board felt that voting rights are most fairly given to
Copyright Licensing members (artists and estates) who have given DACS the authority to act on their behalf for the most significant of their rights - artistic, economic and moral. Many Copyright Licensing members also use our
Payback and
Artist’s Resale Right services and therefore represent the interests of other artists we serve.
Voting rights recognise the seriousness of our contractual relationship with these artists and estates, while still ensuring that the interests of all artists who use our services are represented. From 2014, we will be holding an Annual General Meeting for these members at which they will be able to exercise their vote in a number of key areas.
Changes to our Board
Changes to our Board structure were also supported by artists and estates. The changes will see an increase in artist representation on the Board to six artist members out of a Board of twelve. We will also be establishing a new position of DACS President which will be filled by an artist in a high-profile ambassadorial role.
These changes to our governance will be enacted in 2014 through changes to our
Articles of Association. Further information will be sent to Copyright Licensing members about how this will impact them.
Communicating what we do
Feedback about our branding and identity proved very valuable. It was clear that while views on the appropriateness of our name are mixed, the main issue concerning artists is that they don’t feel there is an adequate understanding of DACS and our services.
As we move into 2014 and celebrate 30 years of DACS working on behalf of artists, we will be working hard to communicate our commitment to transforming the financial landscape for artists.
Visit our About Us section for information about our Board.
Read about our three rights management services for artists and estates.
Image: Members of the audience at our event, 'What are we worth? Artists and the Economic Crisis'. Copyright: Brian Benson, 2011