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The Artist’s Resale Right: Practical considerations for art market professionals
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Art and Cultural Property newsletter - December 2025
The Stephenson Harwood Art and Cultural Property team are delighted to share with you our latest newsletter featuring three bite-size articles covering restitution, resale rights, and regulatory compliance in the sector.
Authors Roland Foord, Fran Legg and Brian Hartnett Cabeza all shared valuable insight on these topics at a recent seminar aimed at clients, contacts and friends in the sector, hosted at our London office.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN RESTITUTION
In recent years there have been several important developments in the restitution of art and cultural property.
Restitution is a term which has historically been used in the context of Holocaust-looted art, but it now often has a broader meaning, covering Holocaust related events, cultural restitution, and stolen property more generally.
READ IN FULL (7-minute read)
2025: KEY ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING UPDATES
A number of important updates have been published this year from an anti-money laundering perspective. We have set out key takeaways for the art market specifically in relation to these publications. Of particular interest are the proposed changes to the MLRs which are expected to come into force in early 2026. These amendments will impact the extent to which enhanced due diligence needs to be carried out.
READ IN FULL (6-minute read)
THE ARTIST’S RESALE RIGHT: PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR ART MARKET PROFESSIONALS
The Artist’s Resale Right Regulations 2006 (ARR) give artists and their estates a legal right to receive a royalty when their original work is resold through an art market professional. For galleries, dealers and auction houses operating in the UK, understanding the ARR and how it works in practice is essential. The ARR regime imposes statutory obligations that can expose art market professionals to liability if overlooked, but it also contains ambiguities that complicate compliance. As a result, the ARR is a source of frustration and target of criticism for many art market professionals, whilst simultaneously praised for providing a vital source of financial support for artists.
This article highlights common pitfalls and offers practical guidance for those operating in the UK market.
READ IN FULL (6-minute read)