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In this edition

• A quick reminder about reporting resales
• Resale royalty and Indigenous artists
• Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR)
• Artlike competition winner

A quick reminder about reporting resales

In December 2011, Minister for the Arts, the Hon Simon Crean MP, announced that it would no longer be necessary to report resales of artworks sold for less than $1000 (including GST).
This change was made to the resale royalty scheme for visual artists in response to requests from Copyright Agency and the sector and it has streamlined and reduced reporting requirements for art market professionals.

Art market professionals are now only required to report resales with a sales value of $1000 and over (including GST).
If you have any questions regarding reporting or require assistance please contact Judy Grady at Copyright Agency on jgrady@copyright.com.au or phone 02 9394 7600.

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Resale royalty and Indigenous artists

The resale royalty scheme legislation was introduced in 2009 with the aim of benefiting all of Australia’s artists. Since the scheme commenced in June 2010, it has generated more than $550,000 in royalty payments for over 350 artists. Over 60% of these artists are Indigenous Australians and this newsletter will take a quick look at their reaction to the scheme.

So far just over 230 Indigenous artists have received a resale royalty payment and although it’s still in its early days, these artists are responding positively to the scheme.
Jane Young, Indigenous artist and Chairperson of DesArt, the Association of Central Australian Aboriginal Art & Craft Centres attended a Tangentyere artists information session and shared with us her observation of the scheme.

‘Some Aboriginal artists don’t have much money, and for some people in communities the money they make from their art is the only money they get, so this resale royalty is really good. It is really good that the money is coming back to the artist because they made the work. It’s their story that they are telling,’ said Jane.
A DesArt member art centre has had three of their artists receive a resale royalty payment. One of the artists ‘was immediately surprised and pleased’ said the art centre ‘but she wanted to know which painting sold where’. Copyright Agency is able to provide information about which of the artist’s works has been resold, but information about the buyer, seller or location of the sale is not published.

Michelle Culpitt, Assistant Executive Officer of DesArt, says that ‘All in all, the introduction of the resale royalty legislation was a great development for artists in general and especially those who are further economically disadvantaged, on the fringe or who have watched their work rapidly escalate in value without financial benefit.’
‘In our DesArt membership many artists are financially, economically and socially disadvantaged and contribute some of the most innovative and stunning artwork being created in Australia today – we hope that this resale royalty will go some way towards providing some recompense,’ says Michelle.

John Oster is CEO of Indigenous Art Code and a member of Copyright Agency’s artist advisory panel. The panel was set up to provide Copyright Agency with advise on practical ways to implement the scheme. John says that the resale royalty scheme has given Indigenous artists a new respect for their work in the marketplace.
‘In learning about the scheme, artists have been learning more about the art market in general and are now thinking more about what happens to their work once they have sold it. The scheme has helped to build the professionalism of Indigenous artists,’ says John.

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Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR)

The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR), created under the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth), commenced on 30 January 2012.  If you are an artist who provides art on consignment to galleries or dealers you will be affected by this new law. For more information, click here to view a fact sheet provided by the Office for the Arts.

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Artlike competition winner

Perth based artist, David Spencer has won the second round of Copyright Agency’s Artlike competition; an art appreciation initiative run through Facebook.

Artlike gives artists an opportunity to promote their works on Copyright Agency’s Resale Royalty Facebook page. Works are submitted for posting on the page, and the winner is chosen by the amount of ‘likes’ received over a three-month period.

This round of the Artlike competition closed on 29 February, and It’s time to see (2011) by David Spencer was the clear winner.

David has been showing his colourful, industrial style paintings for over ten years in solo and group exhibitions across the country. His art regularly employs symbols and patterns to add depth to what is his observation of the modern world.

It’s time to see is a mixed media painting on canvas. ‘It was inspired from a recent trip to Italy, in particular Sorrento on the way to Positano,’ says David.

‘We took a ferry and it was wonderful to take in the coast line. The colourful buildings scattered along the cliff faces ; the deep ocean blue. It was truly a stunning place to be.’

As part of winning this round of Artlike, David’s painting will be featured in the March issue of Copyright Agency’s Calendar magazine.

The next round of Artlike closes on Wednesday 31 May. To enter please download our application form by clicking here. Please read the terms and conditions before entering.

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