ACS is a not-for-profit organisation which administers the Artist’s Resale Right for 478 members. We do not collect any royalties on behalf on an artist or an artist’s estate from whom we do not hold a mandate. We have worked tirelessly to research and identify the correct beneficiary for the 112 artists’ estate members. Working closely with auction houses and dealers, the Artists’ Collecting Society continues its work to ensure that with each sale, the eligible recipient of the royalty receives his or her ARR with the minimum of delay.
As many of you are aware, as of January 2012, the right has been extended to artists’ estates and their beneficiaries. This has raised the issue of orphan estates, where no beneficiary has yet been identified. In such cases, ACS do their utmost to identify and inform the eligible heir. However, there should be no question of a collecting society collecting royalties unless it is aware of to whom that money should be passed.
I hope that this is helpful and would be delighted to answer any enquiries on this blog.
With best wishes,
Leonora Gummer
Senior Manager, Artists’ Collecting Society
17-19 Garway Road, London W2 4PH
Tel 020 7 908 1634
John R Walker
April 17, 2012
In Australia resale royalties are not collected for artists without a known successor.
http://superartbusiness.com.au/?p=233
Will ACS and DACS collect resale royalties on behalf of dead artists who are well known to have no successor in title? And if so why?