UK artists set for New Zealand royalties boost 

UK artists will earn new royalties when their works are resold in New Zealand following the Free Trade Agreement. 

• UK creative sector set for boost as new arrangements ensure British artists are paid when their work is resold in New Zealand. 
• Artist’s resale right (ARR) is of particular importance to emerging artists, with over 80 percent using royalties for living expenses. 
• UK artists exported around £2 million of works/artwork to New Zealand in 2021.
• The new measures take effect from December 1, 2024, following the UK-New Zealand trade deal. 

British artists will now earn new royalties when their artwork is resold in New Zealand, thanks to new arrangements introduced today.  

UK artists exported around £2 million of works/artwork to New Zealand in 2021, and art exports to New Zealand reached over £8 million between 2016 and 2021.

The new rules mean that UK artists will be able to claim resale royalties under the Artist’s Resale Right (ARR) each time their art – such as paintings, sculptures, prints, photographs – is resold through the New Zealand professional art market. The ARR provides additional income for visual artists by ensuring the artist is entitled to a royalty that reflects a portion of the original work’s value each time it is resold.  

This can provide a vital income stream for artists. According to the Alliance for IP, UK artists earn on average £5,000 a year in royalties, with over 80 percent using their ARR for living expenses and art materials.  

Around £12.4 million was paid in resale royalties in 2022 under the ARR in 2022. Since the ARR was first introduced in the UK in 2006, over £120 million has been paid to over 6,000 artists and their heirs.  

Trade Minister Douglas Alexander said: “Resale royalties are an important income stream for our talented British artists, helping them continue to produce art and showcase it in homes and galleries around the world. 

“It’s welcome news that, under the terms of our trade deal, they will now also be able to claim royalties when their art is resold in New Zealand. With UK art exports to New Zealand reaching over £8 million between 2016 and 2021, this new arrangement will help boost the income of our world-class creatives.”

Minister for Intellectual Property Feryal Clark said: “It’s great to see this new agreement with New Zealand, which will ensure UK artists make money from their work when it is resold there. 

“This agreement shows how innovative trade partnerships can champion creativity and enhance the impact of the UK’s creative sector.” 

Chairman of the Artists’ Collecting Society Harriet Bridgeman CBE said: “We at the Artists’ Collecting Society are delighted that the Artist’s Resale Right continues to expand internationally. We are extremely pleased on behalf of the artists and the artists’ estates, which we represent that New Zealand has introduced ARR domestically and has entered a reciprocal agreement with the UK.  

“We hope that the expansion of ARR in the UK for Australians and New Zealanders this year is just the beginning of greater international recognition of the rights of artists and artists’ estates.” 

Chief Executive of The Design and Artists Copyright Society Christian Zimmerman said: “The introduction of the Artist’s Resale Right in New Zealand, and the reciprocal recognition of the right, marks a significant milestone, building on our successful partnerships within the European Economic Area and with Australia. It is confirmation that the need to ensure fair compensation for artists is being recognized globally.  

“In our role distributing ARR royalties in the UK, we take pride in the UK’s role in championing these rights. By collaborating with art market professionals and sister societies worldwide, ARR is making a significant difference for artists and their beneficiaries.” 

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