Royalties for artists
Under theartists’ resale royalty scheme, artists receive royalties on certain resales of their work. Copyright Agency has beenappointed 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 detailshere.
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 loginhere.
About the scheme
Since its start on 9 June 2010, the scheme has:
- generated more than$15 Millionin royalties
- for more than3,000 artists
- from more than33,000 resales
- with most royalties between $50 and $1000
Other facts:
- 65% of the artists who have had a resale royalty are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and they have received 41% of the royalties
- Of the 100 artists who have received the most resale royalty, 52 are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
- In 2024 the resale royalty scheme was extended to include 17 countries, including the UK and many European territories, which means that Australian artists will receive royalty payments for their eligible artworks resold in these countries.
Governance and reporting
Copyright Agency reports regularly to theArts Division on the operation of the scheme, in accordance with its contract of appointment. Copyright Agency also provides itsannual report to the Minister for the Arts for tabling in Parliament.
Copyright Agency is a signatory to theCode of Conduct for Collecting Societies, andreports 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:
artists: contact our Visual Arts Stakeholder and Community Manager,Tristan Chant
art market professionals: contact our Manager of Visual Arts,Judy Grady
Phone 1800 066 844 or +612 9394 7600, or make anonline enquiry.
Resale royalty news
For updatessign-up for our free quarterly eNewsletterCANVAS.
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See our Facebook page here.
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.