Experts Meet in Moscow for Russia's First International Artist’s Resale Right Event

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L-R: UPRAVIS First Deputy Director Konstantin Golenkov, Russian Ministry of Culture Ksenia Miriyasova, DACS Head of Legal and Deputy Chief Operational Officer Cristian Zimmermann, UPRAVIS Head of International Relations Erik Valdes, ADAGP CEO Marie-Anne Ferry-Fall, CISAC Regional Director for Europe Mitko Chatalbashev.

On 22 October, European experts in the field of authors’ rights met in Moscow on the occasion of the first ever international event promoting the Visual Artists' Resale Right in Russia, in the context of the 39th autumn Russian Antique Salon (17-25 October).

Hosted by CISAC and Russian UPRAVIS - a non-commercial partnership for the protection and rights management in the field of visual arts - this event was part of CISAC's international campaign to promote the Visual Artists' Resale Right, which calls for the adoption of a new universal treaty and for effective national legal frameworks.

The Visual Artists' Resale Right ensures that visual artists receive a small percentage of the selling price when their original work of art is resold by an auction house or an art gallery, allowing them to benefit from their works' increasing popularity. Created in 1920, the right currently exists in 81 countries. However it is still absent in such major art markets as China, the United States and Switzerland.

The round table discussion was opened by Vasiliy Bychkov, President of International Confederation of Antique and Art Dealers (ICAAD), a non-profit professional association of private galleries and antique dealers in Russia, joined by CISAC Regional Director for Europe Mitko Chatalbashev and UPRAVIS Director General Konstantin Golenkov.

We very much appreciate the assistance of CISAC and our sister societies in setting up international best practices for the resale right in our country. International cooperation is key to the successful implementation of the resale right in Russia.  It will benefit Russian artists, both domestically and abroad," said Golenkov.

UPRAVIS Head of International Department Eric Valdes-Martines explored the situation of the resale right in Russia. Although it is recognised by Russian legislation, UPRAVIS, the only accredited collective management organisation in the field of visual arts, is struggling to collect the right on behalf of artists due to the reluctance of professional art dealers in complying with the legislation.

French visual arts society ADAGP Director General Marie-Anne Ferry-Fall and DACS (UK) Deputy Chief Operating Officer Christian Zimmermann presented the inner workings of the right in their respective countries, discussed its impact on the art market and shared best international practices.

CISAC will continue to support its Russisan member UPRAVIS in any meaningful way to foster the effective implementation of the resale right in the Russian Federation.  Facilitating the dialogue between artists and commercial entities is an important step in establishing a sustainable and fair art market in Russia," Chatalbashev concluded.