CVAN, a-n, DACS working in partnership for the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Visual Arts and Artists
Posted on and taken from the CVAN.art website.
This Autumn, the APPG for Visual Arts and Artists was reconvened with MPs and peers from all parties committing to providing a forum for parliamentarians to foster a deeper understanding of the issues and challenges faced by UK visual artists and the visual arts.
The group was established in 2021 with secretariat from a-n, CVAN and DACS to help ensure that the visual arts ecosystem fuels creativity, diversity and economic growth supporting both individuals and institutions to ensure the sector can remain world-leading.
In this blog, Julie Lomax, CEO of a-n, The Artists Information Company, Paula Orrell, National Director Contemporary Visual Arts Network England and Christian Zimmermann, CEO of DACS explain why the three organisations are working together to ensure artists and the visual arts remain at the forefront of discussions in Westminster.
Why We Collaborate: A Collective Voice for Artists
As the CEOs of a-n, CVAN, and DACS, we have the privilege of working with visual artists who shape society in ways that are often underappreciated. Artists and visual arts organisations aren’t just contributing to our culture — they drive economic growth, foster community identity, and promote mental wellbeing through their work and programmes.
Their role is crucial, and it’s why our three organisations have come together to collectively advocate for the issues that matter most to them.
Each of our organisations plays a vital role in supporting the visual arts in the UK: a-n connects thousands of artists with essential resources, training, and opportunities; DACS safeguards the rights of visual creators, ensuring they can earn a living from their work through fair royalties and intellectual property protection and CVAN unites the sector, amplifying the voice of artists whilst working to influence national policy. While our individual missions are important, it’s when we collaborate that we truly make an impact.
Supporting artists through the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG)
This is the reasoning behind forming the APPG for Visual Arts and Artists. The APPG provides a space where parliamentarians, artists and visual arts organisations can come together to discuss the challenges facing the sector and work towards practical solutions.
The arts overall play a significant role in the UK’s economy, contributing £49 billion annually, yet many artists struggle with fair pay, insecure work, and the impacts of rapid technological changes such as AI. These issues compound the broader challenges the UK’s creative sector faces, including the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and funding cuts in the arts. Many artists, particularly those at the early stages of their careers, experience financial instability and limited opportunities for growth. It’s clear that visual artists need more support, not just from arts organisations but also from policymakers who can help shape the infrastructure that underpins this sector.
Our key focus areas: fair pay and intellectual property rights
One of the key issues we are addressing is fair pay for artists. Too often, visual artists are expected to work for exposure rather than fair compensation. This devalues their work and discourages diversity within the profession, as those without financial security struggle to make a sustainable living from their art. Ensuring artists receive far pay for their contributions, whether through public art commissions, exhibitions, or educational work, remains a critical part of our advocacy.
Another urgent concern is the rise of artificial intelligence and its impact on intellectual property. As AI tools become increasingly capable of generating artworks and replicating the styles of individual artists, there are growing fears about how these technologies may be used without proper compensation or recognition for creators. We need a balanced approach to AI that doesn’t undermine the livelihoods of human artists. This requires government intervention and clear policies to protect artists’ rights in the digital age.
In response to these challenges, we developed the Visual Arts Manifesto, a set of key recommendations for the UK Government. The manifesto calls for reforms in funding to ensure that artists, especially those from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds, can access the resources they need. It also stresses the importance of investing in cultural education, recognising that creativity and critical thinking are essential skills for the next generation. Without robust arts education, we risk stifling future talent and innovation in the UK.
A shared commitment to a thriving visual arts sector
We believe that visual artists represent not just contributors to the creative industries but also key drivers of social and economic growth. Their work enhances local communities, builds cultural bridges, and promotes mental wellbeing. In light of this, the APPG is more important than ever, providing a vital forum where the voices of artists can be heard and their concerns addressed at the highest levels.
By bringing parliamentarians together with artists and visual arts organisations, we can develop policies that support artists throughout their careers. Whether we discuss the future of AI, funding challenges, or the importance of arts in education, it’s crucial that we work collectively to protect and enhance the visual arts sector. This is why we remain committed to fostering dialogue and collaboration between the government and the visual arts community, ensuring that the UK continues to be a world leader in the arts.