Canada Introduces Artist Resale Royalties for Visual Artists
Visual artists in Canada may soon benefit from royalties on the resale of their works, thanks to a new government initiative to amend copyright laws. The announcement, made in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first budget bill, aims to establish an “Artist’s Resale Right” that would entitle artists to royalties from secondary and future sales of their artworks.
This measure is a significant step towards providing artists with a sustainable income stream, especially since visual artists in Canada are among the lowest earners in the country. Currently, artists in Canada, like those in the United States, do not receive royalties if the value of their work increases after the initial sale. The introduction of Artist’s Resale Right will allow artists to benefit from the growth of their careers over time.
One of the key advantages of this initiative is its potential to support Indigenous artists, who have historically been underrepresented and exploited in the secondary market. The nonprofit Canadian Artists’ Representation/Le Front des artistes canadiens (CARFAC) has been a vocal supporter of the Artist’s Resale Right, highlighting the importance of recognizing and compensating artists for the resale of their work.
Countries in the European Union, such as France and the United Kingdom, already have mechanisms in place to provide artists with royalties on resale. In France, artists can receive up to 3% of the sale price, while the UK caps royalties at £12,500. In contrast, the United States currently does not have a federal Artist’s Resale Right, although there have been attempts at the state level.
While the Canadian government has not yet specified the exact royalties or timeline for implementing the Artist’s Resale Right, organizations like CARFAC estimate that Canadian artists could receive between CA$3 and CA$5 million annually. CARFAC has proposed a 5% royalty on works selling for at least CA$1,000, a move that could significantly benefit artists across the country.
The introduction of Artist’s Resale Right is seen as a critical step towards improving the economic conditions of Canadian artists, particularly Indigenous and senior artists. By ensuring that artists receive fair compensation for the resale of their work, the government aims to promote economic reconciliation and support artists in building sustainable careers.
As the government works towards implementing the Artist’s Resale Right, artists and advocates are hopeful that Canadian artists will soon have the opportunity to share in the profits made on their work in the secondary market. With further details expected to be discussed in the House of Commons in the coming months, the art community in Canada is looking forward to a future where artists are fairly compensated for their creative contributions.
