2001:02 ROYALTIES TO CANADIAN ARTISTS ON THE SECOND SALE OF VISUAL ART
Whereas: Canadian Visual Artists, those who are Canadian citizens, are among Canada’s most important and valuable natural resources and they are supported with pride by other Canadians; (“Visual Arts” refers generally to original paintings, sculpture, and graphics [drawings, engravings and prints] and sometimes original manuscripts, not photography); and
Whereas: Other countries have acknowledged that artists have a right to be equitably reimbursed for their work as their art becomes more valuable and the artist more famous, through the payment of royalties on the second sale of art, commonly known as “droit de suite”; and
Whereas: In other countries such as Spain, Germany, and France and in the state of California (USA), it has been found that the payment of these royalties on the second sale of art is a fair and equitable way to reimburse artists for their work as their fame and reputation grow; and
Whereas: Canadian Visual Artists should have rights with respect to royalties as visual artists do in other countries; and
Whereas: Such royalties result in remuneration or the artist or his/her heirs or other beneficiaries, in the form of a royalty that is usually calculated as a percentage of the sale price paid upon the resale of a work; and
Whereas: In order to encourage Canadian Visual Artists to continue living in Canada and in order that they are acknowledged and their work accredited as “Canadian Art” they must be able to make a living and receive equitable remuneration for their works of art; therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the National Council of Women of Canada adopt as its policy that royalties be paid to visual artists who are Canadian citizens for the second sale of Canadian art; and be it further
RESOLVED: That the National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada to create and pass legislation which gives Canadian Visual Artists the right to have fair and equitable royalties paid on the second sale of art, pursuant to a formula (to be decided on with due consideration given to the royalties paid in other countries).