Royalties for artists
Under the artists’ resale royalty scheme, artists receive royalties on certain resales of their work. Copyright Agency has been appointed by the government to collect royalties to pay to the artists.
To help us find you if we collect a royalty for you, please register your contact details here.
Information required from sellers and agents
The scheme requires the seller, or the seller's agent, to report all commercial resales for $1,000 or more, whether or not a royalty is payable. You can do this online once you set up a secure login here.
About the scheme
Since its start on 9 June 2010 until 31 December 2023, the scheme has generated royalties:
- Totalling more than $14 Million
- For more than 2,700 artists
- From more than 31,900 resales
- Most royalties are between $50 and $500
Other facts:
- Over 65% of the artists receiving royalties are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander artists and they have received 40% of the total royalties
- Over 46% have been paid directly to living artists with some paid to artists' estates and beneficiaries
- Of the 50 artists who have received most money under the scheme, 18 are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
- Most artists have received one or two royalty payments, but some have received multiple payments
Governance and reporting
Copyright Agency reports regularly to the Arts Division on the operation of the scheme, in accordance with its contract of appointment. Copyright Agency also provides its annual report to the Minister for the Arts for tabling in Parliament.
Copyright Agency is a signatory to the Code of Conduct for Collecting Societies, and reports annually to the Code Reviewer on its compliance with the Code. The Code Reviewer invites submissions on collecting societies' compliance with the Code from any interested party.
Need help?
Copyright Agency has specialist staff to help you with your enquiries:
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artists: contact our Visual Arts Stakeholder and Community Manager, Tristan Chant
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art market professionals: contact our Manager of Visual Arts, Judy Grady
Phone 1800 066 844 or +612 9394 7600, or make an online enquiry.
Resale royalty news
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The Australian Government has appointed Copyright Agency to manage the resale royalty scheme.
Credits (from left): Jason Wing, Captain Crook, 2013, Lithograph, 60x50cm © Jason Wing/Licensed by Copyright Agency. Matthew Johnson, Untitled (detail), 2012, Oil on Linen, 91 x 71cm © Matthew Johnson/Licensed by Copyright Agency, Maringka Tunkin, Seven Sisters (detail), 2013, Acrylic on Canvas, 101 x 101cm © Maringka Tunkin /Licensed by Copyright Agency, Kate Scardifield, Garland (objects and new artefacts) [detail], 2014, fabric, thread, rubber, rope, acrylic, timber, video, dimensions variable, © Kate Scardifield /Licensed by Copyright Agency.