DACS distributes £4.6 million in Payback royalties to visual artists and creators
DACS has distributed a share of £4.6 million in royalties to 96,000 photographers, illustrators, and artists through its annual Payback scheme.
Payback is a scheme which pays visual artists annual royalties when their artworks have been published in UK books, magazines and journals or on TV. This year, individual payments were up to £350 for books and magazines and £2,000 when also claiming for TV.
For many visual artists and creators, the annual Payback payment provides a reliable source of income, helping to pay for materials, studio rent and bills. It is a milestone that follows artists throughout their career and since the scheme’s founding in 1999, DACS has paid out over £70 million in Payback royalties.
My advice to anyone claiming Payback for the first time? Don’t hold back! It gave me a whole new focus on tracking how my work and practice is being exposed through UK publications. DACS are extremely supportive and accommodating.
Artist
This is only my second year claiming Payback and I wish I had done it earlier. Payback is literally an opportunity to get some payback, and makes me feel like I’ve done something to try and redress the unfair unpaid labour of an artist.
Artist
It can sometimes feel like there isn’t the support out there for artists, so it is so refreshing and comforting knowing that DACS exists! Here’s to many more years of DACS supporting artist’s rights, income and creative freedom.
Illustrator
What appealed to me about DACS was the simplicity of the system and that I could claim and receive money for images in publications that were already out there in the world. It justifies the sacrifice in payment I made earlier in my career and helps cover costs of all the unpaid time I put into my work.
Photographer
To apply for Payback, visual artists need to complete their annual claim form between January and April each year.
For visual artists and creators interested in claiming for the first time, they can register at payback.dacs.org.uk to be notified when Payback opens in January 2023.
