Almost 3,000 artists have benefitted from the Scheme since 2010.

Laura Jones. Photo by Amelia Rushworth.
Laura Jones. Photo by Amelia Rushworth.

Under the Australian Government's Resale Royalty Scheme visual artists are entitled to a percentage of the price of eligible artworks which are resold commercially for $1,000 or more in Australia.

Changes introduced earlier this year mean that Australian artists can now also receive royalties when their eligible artworks are resold in 17 countries that have entered into reciprocal arrangements with Australia.

Almost 3,000 artists have benefitted from a share in $15 million in royalties from the 33,000 eligible resales over the life of the scheme so far. Around 65 per cent of artists benefitting from the scheme are First Nations artists.

One of the beneficiaries, Australian artist Laura Jones, said:

'The Resale Royalty Scheme recognises the ongoing effort it takes for artists to maintain a creative practice. Artworks take on a life of their own after they leave the studio, and so I think the scheme is wonderful because it ensures artists benefit from that growth as well… It's so important that artists exercise their copyright in their work, just like other creative industries.'

The Resale Royalty Scheme is administered by the Copyright Agency in Australia.

Read the Minister's media release.