Claim it From DACS
£300,000 is available to meet artists’ claims for unauthorised use of their copyright works by publishers and broadcasters in the UK. The money has been collected by the DACS, the Design and Artists Copyright Society, which…
How do I get my gallery / dealer to return unsold works?
You will be in a more difficult situation if the relationship between you and your dealer / gallery has broken down, and if you do not have a…
Freedom of Expression: part 2
In cases of both import and export, what is obscene is a matter for the customs officers, in the first place, and then for a jury to decide; it is not the same as the…
Public Images
‘Public image, you got what you wanted, public image belongs to me, it’s my entrance, my own creation.’* This week I was approached by Recession Pictures who, despite having a name fresh from Britain in the eighties, have…
Percentage for Art
Come gather round people Wherever you roam* From Ancient China, Classical Greece and Rome, the Renaissance through to the Bauhaus, the collaboration between art and architecture has been a vital, significant and evident feature within society. The…
Heath and Safety
If you have a studio the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 will apply to your use of it, as the regulations apply to all places of work, and this includes an artist’s studio. An overview…
Knockin’ on Hebborns Door
A new faker king has been crowned. Mama take this badge off of me I can’t use it any more. It’s gettin’ dark, too dark for me to see I feel like I’m knockin’ on heavens…
Paper Promises, part 2
Part I last month began to deal with exhibition and selling work, one off and generally, responding to five questions posed by a newly established gallery administrator. Part II concludes by giving check lists of points…
Invitations
Invitations to private views and talks are a good way to attract new audiences. Printed invitations have fallen out of favour recently. The cost of printing and posting them has become prohibitive for many artists. Artist’s now often focus…
Artist statement
An artist’s statement is a short piece of writing about your work. Artist’s statements are as varied and diverse as the art they describe. The following guidelines are suggestions and observations rather than hard and fast rules. Artist…
Riding the D-Train (part 2)
A perennial problem has arisen, partly because inspectors generally regard part time teaching as a contract of service, taxable under Schedule E. Part time Teaching: Problems and Solutions A perennial problem has arisen, partly because…
Up Against the Wall: part 2
Moral Abuses Moral, as opposed to economic, abuse cases are prevalent. One was discussed in last month’s AM issue, and here are some more. Each is a true story. Not satisfied with a completed…
After Sales
The last two articles in this series have dealt with selling work: the use of some written form of agreement was shown to be essential and of considerable advantage to artists and buyers. If the suggested Artist's Contract…
VAT of confusion
There is much confusion over the new VAT rules due to come into force on January 1st 1993 as part of the European Single Market. Artlaw has been trying to unravel a complex and developing situation with…
ArtlawTV: Susanna Heron on Site Specific Art
Site Specific Art – protecting the artist’s vision Artist Susanna Heron (see also: Flickr sets) talks through her experiences of being commissioned on public art projects, the pitfalls she encounters and how to…
What kind of access can I expect in a studio or property?
The use, access and management of a property are key issues that can often be overlooked by artists when negotiating a contract. For example, if you have a…
Breaking the Rules
As an art lawyer, Warhol’s death provoked in me serious thoughts about art and money, including the rules of the marketplace. Between thought and expression Lies a lifetime. * And though the rules of the road have…
Loans and finance
Loans, overdrafts, credit cards, mortgages, micro loans are all forms of ‘debt finance’. Money is borrowed from a lender then repaid over a period of time, usually with interest. The total amount repaid is always more than…