Discussing IP and the Smart Fund: DACS Holds Key Parliament Meeting on Artists’ Livelihoods
This morning, DACS convened a roundtable in parliament 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 goup 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.
We’re grateful to our parliamentary attendees for recognising the crucial contribution of artists to both culture and the economy and for engaging with solutions that protect their rights and future incomes.
DACS will continue to advocate for policies that ensure creativity is not just admired, but properly supported - so artists can thrive and the UK’s creative sector can continue to flourish.
