How we advocated for visual artists’ rights through policymaking this Summer

As part of our mission to support visual artists, DACS actively campaigns for the protection of artists' rights on behalf of our members. With parliament now in summer recess until September, we recap our key activity in the last parliamentary session.

Conclusion of Data Bill and confirmation of working groups

The Data (Use and Access) Bill achieved Royal Assent in June. This means proposals contained in the final bill now have royal approval to be become law. Throughout the bill’s progress, amendments were tabled which would have required tech companies to declare their use of copyright material when training AI tools.

The government rejected these amendments, and has since committed to a separate AI Bill to address these issues, though a timeline for this has yet to be confirmed. In addition, the government has announced working groups bringing together both rightsholders and the AI sector. DACS is participating in these groups and making the case for licensing models that support visual artists and all creatives, underpinned by transparency.  

UK constituency roundtables supporting visual artists

In June, we convened roundtable meetings for visual artists and creative businesses in Leigh and Atherton, and Bournemouth, with Jo Platt MP and Jessica Toale MP, respectively.  

Across both sessions, artists highlighted the challenges currently facing grassroots arts organisations and independent practitioners, particularly outside of major cities. Participants highlighted the urgent need to remove systemic barriers that limit opportunity and growth, particularly for emerging and marginalised voices.  

Access to affordable, flexible “meanwhile” spaces for exhibitions, studios, and events was raised as a top priority, alongside calls to strengthen regional networks and foster more sustainable collaboration between existing arts organisations.

These roundtables are a direct reflection of DACS’ mission to bring artists’ voices into Westminster and increase the visibility of visual artists and the wider visual arts sector within policymaking.

Creative Industries Sector Plan and Freelance Champion

Speaking of increased visibility, the Creative Industries Sector Plan published by the government on 23rd June, names the visual arts as once of the key growth sub-sectors in the Creative Industries – this recognition is a welcome acknowledgement of the UK’s world leading visual arts sector.  

Further, in a boost to freelancers across the creative industries, DCMS has announced it will appoint a Creative Freelance Champion to advocate for the sector’s creative freelancers within government.

DACS has been calling for a new government appointment to champion the vital role freelance, self-employed and atypical workers play across the creative and cultural sectors, while identifying and finding solutions to unintentional systemic challenges that they face. This was one of the recommendations we made to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee session on  Creator Remuneration in September 2023. However, there remain questions about the powers that the ‘Champion’ will have, as opposed to a commissioner, who would have statutory powers to change laws and policy. These questions have been raised in debates including the Employment Rights Bill.  

More broadly, the plan highlights the UK’s position as the second largest art market in the world, with an 18% share of global trade, and that art is one of the top 30 exports.  The government commits to tackling growth barriers – including those experienced post-Brexit and encouraging global partnerships which help cement this position.

Leveraging IP to support visual artists

In July, we convened a roundtable to spotlight the vital role of intellectual property (IP) in providing independent income for visual artists. Hosted by Jo Platt, MP for Leigh and Atherton, the event brought together MPs and Peers, including Baroness Bennett, Baroness Debbonaire, the Earl of Clancarty and Lord Freyberg.

The discussion highlighted the sustained financial pressures facing visual artists, from rising costs to funding cuts - and the potential long-term risks to the UK’s rich visual arts landscape. The group explored practical ways to secure artists’ livelihoods, including the Smart Fund, a campaign which could generate between £250-300 million a year to better support visual artists and the wider cultural industries.

British IP Day

June also marked the annual British IP Day celebrations where key figures from across the UK’s intellectual property (IP) landscape gathered in Parliament for a reception, underscoring the vital contribution of IP to the nation’s economy, hosted by the Alliance for Intellectual Property.

DACS was delighted to be joined at the event by members William Cobbing and Ella Murtha, representing the estate of the celebrated photographer Tish Murtha. Their presence highlighted the essential role that artists play in enriching the UK’s cultural life and economy, emphasising why strong IP protections are so vital.

Looking ahead: DACS at the Labour Party Conference

DACS will be once again attending the Labour Party Conference in September, where we will be taking part in 2 panels as part of the Creative Industries Pavilion, organised by Creative UK. Conference presents a unique opportunity for DACS to raise the profile of the visual arts sector with policymakers and highlight the challenges faced by visual artists.  

Read more

• Freelance Champion mentioned as Lords and Peers debate the Employment Rights Bill
• Supporting and creating affordable studio space discussed with the APPG for Visual Artists in Parliament
• What is an APPG and how does it support artists?