The Artists’ Collecting Society (ACS) was set up in 2006 by Harriet Bridgeman in response to requests from artists and art market professionals who recognised the need for a transparent, fair and professional collecting society that put artists’ needs first. Created ‘for the love of art’, ACS has been delighted to witness first-hand the support it has provided to our member artists.

Since our inception, ACS has grown to represent over 1,000 artists and artists’ estates who enjoy financial support through the administration of ARR royalties. As well as funding the production of exhibitions and the purchase of vital art materials for our artists, the royalties received by our estates significantly contribute to the protection and promotion of artists’ legacies through the research and publication of monographs and other related materials.

ACS is dedicated to supporting the artistic community and is proud to represent each of our members. We are pleased to promote the achievements of our members through our website, our social media feeds and our regular newsletter. We hope that by providing these extra services, ACS can become a real support to our members as well as encouraging new, emerging artists through the various charitable and educational projects we support as a Community Interest Company.

ACS has benefited the artistic community through the funding of bursaries for art students at leading institutions such as the Royal Academy of Arts, as well as providing support to leading art prizes and charities, including the National Open Art Competition, the Koestler Trust and the Artists’ General Benevolent Institution.

We look forward to the next ten years and the challenges they may bring. We hope that in that time we will see the implementation of a global reciprocal agreement on ARR, a cause which we have consistently campaigned for. We also hope to carry on seeing more and more art market professionals complying with the legislation, something which has already taken place through our pursuit of those who try to evade the royalty, as well as legal safeguards being put in place to combat recalcitrant dealers and galleries.