What is an APPG? Exploring how DACS works with Parliament to support artists
(L-R: the Earl of Clancarty, Paula Orrell, Director CVAN, Lord Freyberg, Ruth Cadbury MP, Artist Exodus Crooks, Cat Eccles MP, Artists Larry Achiampong, Sutapa Biswas and Charlotte Warne Thomas, and Eva Langret, Director of Frieze London.) Photo credit: Matt Crossick/DACS.
At DACS, advocacy is a core part of our work - engaging with artists, partners and parliamentary officials to champion artists’ rights. One way we do this is through the APPG for Visual Arts & Artists, which you may have seen us reference regularly, which DACS organises along with a-n the Artists Information Company and CVAN.
An APPG is an All-Party Parliamentary Group - a group made up of MPs and members of the House of Lords from across all political parties. They come together around a shared interest to learn, discuss and build understanding.
The APPG for Visual Arts & Artists provides a forum in Parliament where politicians can explore the challenges and opportunities facing visual artists in the UK. Its purpose is to:
- Advance understanding of how artists work and build their careers
- Promote the value artists and the visual arts bring to society and the UK economy
- Foster an environment where the visual arts can truly flourish
The group is chaired by Cat Eccles MP (Labour, Stourbridge), with officers and members from Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Crossbench parties. It includes over 20 MPs and Lords who are committed to supporting the visual arts.
What have they been working on?
Recently, the APPG has hosted meetings and briefings in Parliament focused on:
- The impact of the UK’s creative industries on growth and employment
- Fair pay and better support for self-employed artists
- The importance of copyright and artists’ rights in sustaining careers
DACS has contributed by sharing data, artist case studies and expert evidence to highlight the real-life issues artists face - from irregular income and late payments to how royalties provide vital, ongoing support.
By working with the APPG, we’re helping ensure artists’ voices shape future policy and decision-making.
