How to become a DACS member

Use our artist search to check if you are already a member for either our Artist Resale Right or Licensing services.

• Search for DACS Licensing members
• Search for DACS ARR members
• To check if you are a DACS Payback member email: payback@dacs.org.uk

If you’ve decided which service you’re eligible for and want to enquire about becoming a member, please complete the relevant online form. This will allow us to contact you with more information.

DACS Artist's Resale Right: register for the service as an artist or enquire about joining as a beneficiary or heir. 

DACS Licensing: enquire about joining as an artist, beneficiary or heir.

DACS Payback: register for an online account and get notified when it’s time to make your annual claim.

If you have previously been a DACS member, contact our membership team directly so that we can re-open your membership.

To re-open your membership, please speak to our Artists' Services team on +44 (0) 20 7780 7575 or email artistservices@dacs.org.uk 

You may be registered for ARR or represented for artwork licensing by another collecting society or by a gallery.

1. Check your service agreement or contract for the details about ending your agreement. For example, how much notice do you need to give and would any termination payment be due?
2. Contact them to let them know you would like to end your agreement with them.
3. Contact DACS to let us know you would like to register for 1 or more of our services. Let us know about any notice period you need to fulfil.

To switch to DACS

Please speak to our Artists' Services team on +44 (0) 20 7780 7575 or email artistservices@dacs.org.uk

Getting legal advice

We cannot advise you on an existing copyright infringement action. Have a look at our Other Advice Sources which offer helpful support if you are not a DACS Artist's Resale Right or DACS Licensing member. You can also take a look at our information section for guides to lots of copyright issues.

Getting information and support 

If you aren’t eligible or not ready to join DACS right now, there is a wealth of information and advice you can explore:

• Copyright the basics: get to know your rights and how to protect them.
• Estates and estate planning information: Find out how to plan your estate to protect your works’ copyright.
• Creator voices blogs: DACS members and community share their challenges and experiences.
• DACS advocacy work: read more on how we campaign for the protection of artists’ rights and royalties.

If you’d like to stay up to date with our advocacy work, as well as insights from artists and industry experts, our campaigns and events sign up to our mailing list. 

Still unsure?

Not sure if you’re eligible to join one of our services? Talk to a member of our team if you have any questions about membership on on +44 (0) 20 7780 7575 or email artistservices@dacs.org.uk

Copyright in artistic works generally lasts for the artist or creator’s lifetime until the end of the period of 70 years from the end of the calendar year in which the artist died.

Your DACS membership will end when the copyright in your works expires, meaning they enter the public domain.

Once copyright has expired, DACS can no longer provide representation, licensing or royalty-collection services. 

Find out more:

• What happens when I can no longer be a DACS member? 

• What happen when copyright I own expires?