Art Market Copyright Bullies - artmarketblog.com Being on the front line of visual arts copyright means that I have the opportunity to experience the problems associated with this issue from both sides of the fence.
of cultural institutions refusing to purchase an artist’s work unless they sign a waiver giving that institution permission to use images of the artwork in any way they please without having to obtain permission or pay fees. Other instances of bullying include galleries refusing to promote an artist’s work unless the artist waives the copyright fees, and museums guilting artists into waiving copyright fees in ‘exchange’ for having their work exhibited.
If being a full time practicing artist is going to be a financially viable option into the future then the art market needs to invest more into the future of these artists. It is not just the monetary reward that makes copyright fees so important. Going through the correct procedure for obtaining permission to use an image, and paying the appropriate fee, is an acknowledgement of the artist’s hard work and recognises their work as being valuable and special. A worthy cause indeed.
**Nicholas Forrest is an art market analyst, art critic and journalist based in Sydney, Australia. He is the founder of http://www.artmarketblog.com, writes the art column for the magazine Antiques and Collectibles for Pleasure and Profit and contributes to many other publications.
