Art News

Artists and their families welcome Government’s decision on the Artist’s Resale Right

LONDON.- The families and beneficiaries of UK artists stand to benefit from millions in royalties from 1 January 2012 with the full implementation of the Artist’s Resale Right. This important Right pays artists royalties each time their work is resold by an auction house or art dealer. The Right has applied to living artists since 2006, and DACS (the Design and Artists Copyright Society) has paid artists nearly £14 million in royalties in the last six years. Artist Damien Hirst explains why he thinks the Artist Resale Right is so important: ‘I’m pleased that the Artist’s Resale Right is finally be extended to heirs and beneficiaries as in most other EU states. We need to recognise financially their role in preserving art. They spend a lot of time and energy on this and they should have some support.’ The full implementation means that artists can leave this Right to their families with the royalties h