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DACS’ Annual Review: 58,000 artists and estates receive £18 million in royalties

DACS Annual Review 2018 cover

In a world that is hard to predict, DACS remains a constant and reliable, partner supporting thousands of artists.

2018: a record year for DACS

Our latest Annual Review reveals that more artists than ever before are benefiting from royalties through DACS. Last year, we paid 58,000 artists and estates more than £18 million in royalties

  • For 20 years,Payback has been a trusted source of income for artists and their representatives. Last year, tens of thousands of artists received a share of £5 million in royalties.
  • In 2018, over 1,900 artists and their heirs received over £10 million in Artist’s Resale Right royalties, which is the highest amount DACS has paid to date. These royalties help keep artists making art. Visit FairShareforArtists.org to learn more about why the Right matters and how to support our campaign.
  • Over 1,400 artists and estates received £2.2 million in Licensing royalties in 2018. Last year, we licensed our members’ work for a range of exciting commercial projects including Christopher Kane, Deutsche Bank, Harper’s Bazaar, Netflix, Off-White x Nike, Sky Arts, Sony Music, Shakespeare’s Globe and Wales Bonner.

Supporting the business of being an artist in the 21st Century

Our Annual Review also reports on our ambitious strategic plan to take DACS into the next decade and continue to support the business of being an artist. Some of the key highlights which you can read about in our latest publication include:

  • Working with The Alan Turing Institute and the Oxford Internet Institute to launch ground-breaking research into blockchain, and how it can support a fairer, more transparent art market.
  • Partnering with Art360 Foundation, to support the development of the Art360 app – a free tool designed to help artists start and maintain their archives.
  • Exploring the issues that affect artists’ lives and practices through a curated public programme, including Spaced Out an all day conference in collaboration with Artquest.
  • Launching our Annual Award for artists. The 2018 award went to Turner-Prize nominated artist Anthea Hamilton. Later this month, we welcome this year’s award winner Ryan Gander to the stage, to explore Perspectives, a talk which considers our inability to change our minds.
  • Read our latest Annual Review to find out more.

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