CRA backs establishing the Smart Fund to create new revenue streams for artists, writers, performers and directors, and supplement public funds.

The advancement of new technology, such as smartphones and tablets, has transformed the way we consume and experience visual art. This shift underscores the need for robust copyright frameworks that protect the rights of artists, regardless of how their works are created, shared, or distributed, including across digital devices.

Collective licensing schemes are essential as they allow copyright holders to receive royalties when their works are used or reproduced in various media, including print and television. Supporting these frameworks ensures that artists are fairly compensated in an ever-evolving digital landscape. Such a scheme in the UK could generate up to £300million per year for creatives, and supplement public funding for the arts.

The CRA is backing the establishment of the Smart Fund, recently endorsed by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee in April 2024, as part of the Creator Remuneration report. The Smart Fund is backed by organisations from across the creative industries, including ALCS (Writers); BECS (Performers); DACS (Visual Artists); Directors UK (Screen directors); PICSEL (Visual Artists).