How to use this service
Before sending us your query, please follow the steps below to make sure your query is going to the most suitable advice service.
The Artlaw legal advice service is free to artists, but Artquest still pays for the advice we solicit from our legal experts. By following the process below, you can ensure we use our resources in the best way.
1. Consult Artlaw articles
Artlaw is an online collection of art law related articles written by Henry Lydiate, originally for Art Monthly magazine. Artlaw articles covers topics including copyright, studios, contracts, money, patrons, censorship, wills and estates, moral right, resale royalty right and publication.
You can also find links to other useful sites and resources in the Useful Links pages in most of the sections, and the search box under the main menu on the left can help you find specific articles of interest.
2. Contact our specialist partners
If your query is about a specialist area covered by one of our partners, please contact them instead of Artlaw.
Acme
Contact: Julia Lancaster
Email: Julia@acme.org.uk
Tel: 020 8981 6811
Fax: 020 8983 0567
www.acme.org.uk
Specialists in: Studios
Acme has over 30 years experience of negotiating, building, converting and managing studio space and is the leading strategic development agency for artists' studios in England. They provide an advisory service to artists and groups of artists on all aspects of studio development and management including: leases and lease negotiations, letting agreements with artists, business rate relief and valuation, DDA compliance, health and safety, conversion work, and more.
a-n The Artists Information Company
Tel: 0191 241 8000
www.a-n.co.uk
Speciaists in: legal advice outside of London to subscribers
Useful subscriber only information and advice for artists across the UK. a-n, the artists information company, publishers of interactive guides including the contract's toolkit (subscriber only), the artist's development toolkit, the artist's fees toolkit and studios toolkit.
The Designers and Artists Copyright Society (DACS)
Tel: 020 7336 8811
Copyright Hotline: 0845 555 1199 (Members of DACS only)
Fax: 020 7336 8822
Email: info@dacs.org.uk
www.dacs.org.uk
Specialists in: Copyright to subscribers
DACS (the Design and Artists Copyright Society) promote and protect their member's copyright. They have information on their site about copyright, legal advisors, licensing and becoming a member. Members have access to a telephone hotline staffed by Copyright Adviser Helen Dutta. The line is open Monday and Tuesday 10am to 1pm and Wednesday 2pm to 5pm.
Own-it
Email: info@own-it.org
www.own-it.org
Specialists in: Intellectual property and licensing
Own It provides advice and information to creative people in London on intellectual property and copyright issues.
3. Send us your query
If you cannot find either the answer to your query from the links above, or another organisation to help you, please send us your query.
Send Artquest your legal query here
If we are unable to respond to your query due to volume of enquiries, we may refer you to our partners at the Legal Advice Centre at Queen Mary University of London. QMUL LAC help practitioners with intellectual property advice and other aspects of property and employment law, as well as issues over discrimination.
Please remember that, because of our limited Arts Council England funding, Artlaw can only provide legal advice for London-based artists. Artists based outside of London should refer to the Other free legal advice and Legal Advisors pages.