DACS

Championing, protecting, and managing the rights of artists

About

Founded in 1984, DACS is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to championing, protecting, and managing the rights of artists and maximising their royalties. We envision and work towards a society which recognises, respects, and values all artists. We are a collective management organisation (CMO) which means we collect and distribute royalties to artists, creators and their beneficiaries. For 40 years, we have managed copyright licensing requests on behalf of our members. Since 2006, DACS has paid over £134 million in Artist’s Resale Right royalties to artists and their estates, and through our Payback scheme, over £80 million in collective licensing royalties since 1999.  We also campaign and advocate for the rights of artists and creators, working with partners across the sector and with government to make sure artists receive fair pay for their work. Annually, DACS supports over 1,200 galleries, auction houses, and art dealers with the Artist’s Resale Right. In 2024, we also arranged 1,900 licences for its members, working with over 600 art market, commercial, public, and charity clients. DACS members include Dame Sonia Boyce, Sir Frank Bowling, Dame Tracey Emin, Sir Peter Blake, Damien Hirst, Yinka Shonibare CBE, the Estate of Francis Bacon, the Andy Warhol Foundation and many more.

People who have worked with DACS