The Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage has today announced the establishment of an Artist Resale Royalty Scheme to ensure the creators of visual arts are recognised and rewarded when their work is resold on the secondary art market.
Minister Carmel Sepuloni said the Scheme will support the nation’s visual artists by ensuring that a 5% royalty is collected when their work is sold on the resale market.
“This is about fairness. It underlines our Government’s commitment to honouring the tremendous artistic skill and creativity of so many of our visual artists,” Minister Sepuloni said.
“I believe we’ve struck the right balance between allowing a valuable and important resale market to flourish, and respecting the contribution of the original creators of art. Beyond the monetary acknowledgement, this is confirmation for artists that they have rights, and their cultural and societal contribution is valued.”
The Scheme, to be set up in line with Aotearoa’s Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the UK and the EU, will be a flat rate of 5% before any additions, deductions, or other charges, ensuring it does not place too large a burden on buyers, sellers, and art market professionals.
“This is not only an important part of our free trade agreement with the UK and EU, but it places Aotearoa New Zealand alongside more than 80 other countries who now have resale royalty schemes, aligning with common international practice,” the Minister said.
“People that buy and sell visual artworks on the secondary market make money on artworks when an artist’s reputation grows and they achieve success. However, currently none of this profit, which is a result of the hard work put in and success achieved by the artist, actually goes to the artist. Under the proposed Artist Resale Royalty Scheme this will change.”
She said standalone legislation will be written and pass through the House before the Scheme is introduced by late 2024. The Scheme will be available to citizens and residents of New Zealand or residents of a reciprocating country.
“The Government has engaged on how the Scheme can bring benefits to artists while also minimising any administrative or compliance burdens on art market professionals. We have engaged with the New Zealand art sector, including with artists, including Māori and Pacific artists, art experts, art market professionals, public galleries and museums, and key sector organisations,” the Minister said.
“Another key element of this Scheme is that it’ll operate on a reciprocal basis with corresponding regimes overseas, for example in the UK and EU countries. I’m pleased that the recently concluded FTAs have provided us with the springboard for new engagement and even closer ties with the UK and EU.
“The establishment of this Scheme is a really important step to support emerging and established visual artists in Aotearoa, ensuring that they can continue to see benefits for creating amazing art and enabling the creative sector to thrive.”
Trade and Export Growth Minister, Damien O’Connor said he was pleased to see the benefits of the UK and EU FTAs flowing into all sectors of the community.
“Our Trade for All agenda saw us working hard for all New Zealanders to land our historic FTAs with the UK and EU. I’m pleased that the financial outlook for our visual artists will grow as their international reputations do, as a result,” Mr O’Connor said.
