The need to establish an effective system for collecting resale royalties and remunerating artists alike took center stage during the just concluded launching of the monthly series of talks ‘Point of View’ organised by “The Ben Enwonwu Foundation” at Mike Adenuga Centre, Ikoyi.
Burning questions like “Who would be responsible for paying the resale royalty rate?” and What should be the basis for its calculation; the sale or auction price?” were addressed during the event.
The first edition of ‘Point of View’ themed ‘A Case for the Artist’s Resale Right’ in Nigeria took a broader outlook on why, unlike novelists and musicians, visuals artists do not benefit from secondary and downstream sales of their works. Indeed, their income pales in comparison to those of other creatives, mainly because they do not earn significantly from the reproduction and communications rights provided to other creators under copyright law, according to submissions at the event.
According to the President of Society of Nigerian Artists, Oliver Enwonwu, who is also the son of late Ben Enwonwu, the late respected artist in whose memory the foundation was founded: “The artist’s resale right seeks to correct this anomaly by ensuring artists receive a small percentage of the resale price of a work. Although this right is recognised in the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (Article 14ter), which sets minimum international copyright standards, it is optional, with only about 80 countries in adherence.”
He added: “Today, visual artists around the world argue for a mandatory and universal application of the right, to ensure there is an equitable balance between artists and traders in their works, improvement in the traceability and pedigree of artworks and consequently the transparency of the global art market. Also, resale royalties in place would enable proper cataloguing and authentication of an artist’s work, which are time-consuming and costly undertakings.”
‘Point of View’ thus seeks to establish an effective system for collecting resale royalties and remunerating artists alike by first providing answers to questions like: Is Nigeria a member of the Berne Convention? How in practical terms can we support the development of the institutions, systems, and procedures that would ensure the easy, efficient and cost-effective application and management of a resale royalty scheme? How can Nigerian artists receive royalties for their eligible artworks sold in reciprocating countries (which have implemented Article 14 of the Berne Convention)? How can artists from reciprocating countries receive royalties for their eligible artworks sold in Nigeria? Are the same rules to be applied in the case of a derivative work?”.
The event, which was organised in conjunction with Society of Nigerian Artists and supported by Alliance Francaise Lagos and the Nigerian Copyright Commission as a collaborative platform brought together a diverse line-up of artists, curators, writers, thinkers, and policymakers, to share their perspectives on the role of the visual arts in shaping society.
Also, drawing from other creative disciplines and experiences to take a broad helicopter view of the art scene in Nigeria and Africa, ‘Point of View’ proffered an innovative format, as well as a three-pronged approach that aims to encourage, support and provide funding for the visual arts through public and private sector partnership while ensuring continuing professional development and empowerment for practitioners.
Speakers included Oliver Enwonwu, Director of The Ben Enwonwu Foundation; Neil Coventry, African Representative, Bonhams; John Asien, Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission; Dr. Simon Ikpakroniyi, acting Director-General, National Gallery of Art; Femi Lijadu, Chairman Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria and Ngozi Aderibigbe, Sector Head, Technology, Media and Entertainment, Jackson Etti & Edu.
