In July 2023, The House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee held a debate following the publication of their inquiry into the risks facing creative industries, which DACS submitted evidence to in September 2022.
DACS has drawn on the expertise of leading artists, gallerists, and change-makers in the visual arts to outline how creative practices are changing, how new and diverse audiences are being reached and what skills artists require to maximise these exciting new opportunities and has provided a set of recommendations to support creative industries.
Summary of recommendations
- Intellectual Property Rights and AI: Artists rely on copyright royalties to support their practice, and it is essential that AI companies who are using artists’ work fairly reward them. The IP framework should not be eroded and no new exceptions to copyright are needed.
- Implementation of the Smart Fund: Implement the Smart Fund or a similar scheme to ensure artists are compensated fairly when their work is reproduced and shared digitally. As one artist argued, “Fair remuneration isn’t a privilege, it’s a right.”
- Digital Skills Development: Increase investment in digital skills training, including funding for artist residency programmes, to equip artists with the skills to navigate the digital landscape. As one artist stated, “Our industry’s future depends on our ability to master these new tools.”
DACS, as a member of the Secretariat for the APPG for Visual Arts, submitted a full briefing, which can be found here.