Workshop: Visual Art & Licensing w/Janet Hicks

Artists use copyright protection to keep their work from being used or sold without authorization. Art licensing is a way in which artists can license or “rent” their artwork to publishers, organizations, individuals and companies to use their artwork or to put on their products. But how does an artist license their work? How does an individual approach an artist to license their work? Is licensing always needed for all artists and for all types of artwork?

In our Art & Law Workshop with Janet Hicks, Artists Rights Society, we learned about the process of licensing visual art- Who is the licensor? Who is the licensee? What are the steps an artist needs to take to license their artwork? How do others approach artists or various rights organizations to license an artists’ work? Do you need a contract? What are the terms that artists and publishers should be cognizant of? How much should an artist charge? How much do organizations pay? Does it vary? Learn the basics, benefits and “how to’s” of licensing visual art as Janet instructs the workshop, where she brought in her experience in the field while working with publishers and artists at the Artists Rights Society.

About the Instructor:

Janet Hicks | Artists Rights Society

Janet Hicks is Vice President and Director of Licensing at ARS, and serves on the Executive Committee of the visual arts arm of CISAC, known as CIAGP, the International Council of Creators of Graphic, Plastic, and Photographic Arts. She is also the ARS representative for IFFRO, the International Federation of Reproductive Rights Organization. At ARS she handles advertising, film and television uses as well as major museum exhibits and international and membership relations. She has a MA in Art History from the University of Oregon and is also a curator and advocate for emerging contemporary and outsider artists at her art gallery, One Mile Gallery.