DACS continues to champion artists’ rights through policy and advocacy work this Autumn
This autumn has been an active season for our policy and advocacy work. From major political events and art fairs, to sector-wide collaborations on AI and copyright, DACS ensures that artists’ views are heard by those who can make change happen.
Making the case for artists at the Labour Party Conference
In September, DACS was in Liverpool for Creative UK’s Cultural & Creative Industries Pavilion at the Labour Party Conference to highlight the essential role that artists and creators play in the UK’s economy.
Our Head of Policy and International, Reema Selhi, spoke on two panels focusing on the future of creativity and intellectual property:
Creative Industries and the UK Industrial Strategy: A Growth Engine Across Sectors, which explored how creativity drives innovation across industries - from technology and manufacturing to fashion and finance. Panellists included speakers from Paramount, the Royal College of Art, the Royal Ballet and Opera, and the British Fashion Council.
IP in the Age of GenAI: Rights, Revenues & Responsibilities, where Reema joined voices from across publishing, music, and media to discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping creative work and how robust copyright protections can ensure fair rewards for creators.
Throughout these discussions, DACS made the case that visual artists are key drivers of innovation and economic growth and that any future industrial or AI strategy must include strong protections and fair remuneration for creators.
Engaging policymakers at Frieze London and Frieze Masters
October is one of the busiest moments in the UK’s art calendar as Frieze London and Frieze Masters return to Regent’s Park. The fairs provided an important opportunity for DACS to celebrate the work of artists and estates we represent and to engage policymakers directly with the art world.
Working with Frieze, DACS led special tours of the fairs for several parliamentarians, including Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Chair of the Culture, Media & Sport Committee. These tours showcased the significant contribution of UK artists and galleries to the global art market and opened conversations about the role of government in sustaining a thriving cultural economy.
Joint statement defending artists in the age of AI
As AI continues to reshape the creative industries, DACS joined AOI, AOP and PICSEL, representing more than 100,000 visual artists, photographers, and illustrators to call out the widespread, unauthorised use of copyrighted works in AI training.
Together, we’re demanding:
- Retrospective settlements for unlicensed use of creative works in AI models
- Transparency on datasets used for AI training
- Fair licensing agreements to ensure artists are credited and compensated
Our joint statement stresses that AI innovation should not come at the expense of creators’ rights. Artists’ work fuels these technologies, and they must share in the value created.
Open letter calling for stronger copyright protections
Alongside over 70 leading creative organisations and artists, DACS signed an open letter to the Prime Minister urging the government to strengthen protections for copyright and uphold the rights of UK creators.
The letter calls for greater transparency, enforcement, and oversight to ensure artists retain control over their work and receive fair compensation in the face of emerging technologies. It warns that without meaningful action, the UK risks undermining the very foundations of its creative economy.
As a signatory, DACS is proud to stand with partners across the cultural sector in reinforcing that copyright is not just a legal tool - it’s the foundation of artists’ livelihoods and creative independence.
Contributing to ethical AI research at UCL
In October, DACS took part in a workshop at UCL East as part of ORIGIN: A Certification Framework for Human Creativity in Generative AI, led by CVAN London.
The session brought together artists, academics and sector leaders to co-design ethical, artist-centred approaches to AI. DACS shared insights from DACS’ 2024 report Artificial Intelligence & Artists’ Work, which surveyed artists’ perspectives on AI and underlined the importance of evolving copyright frameworks to protect creative labour.
Exploring AI and the art market
At the Art Business Conference DACS’ CEO Christian Zimmermann joined a panel hosted by Lord Clement-Jones to discuss how AI is transforming art creation, ownership, and valuation.
“The biggest myth we want to dispel is that artists and creators are technophobes. This is simply not true. Many visual artists and creators of all types embrace technology and incorporate it into their work. Their concern is not about new technology itself, but about recognition and respect for artists’ rights.
Another important myth to dispel is that AI scraping the internet is equivalent to an artist looking at art in a museum for inspiration. I doubt that a human visitor to a gallery would be able to remember in detail every artwork they view, AI programmes can do that, they don’t get inspired. There is a huge difference, and that is why technology firms should collaborate and work with us, with artists, to license the use and ingestion of works of art.”
– Christian Zimmermann, DACS
The discussion highlighted the need for collaboration between artists, policymakers, and technology firms to develop fair, transparent licensing models that support sustainable creativity in the AI era.
Looking ahead
This season’s activity reflects DACS’ ongoing commitment to ensure that visual artists’ voices are heard by key people in the most important spaces.
As policy and technology continue to evolve, DACS will keep advocating for fairness, transparency and recognition for the artists whose work fuels our culture and economy.
