Pro-Action

Pro-Action is the new committee established by the Association of Illustrators and the Society of Artists Agents to deal with the problems facing illustrators in today's market place. Our aims are to tackle fee erosion, increasingly detrimental Contract terms from clients, and issues that may arise between illustrators and their representatives. These factors have increasingly become a negative force effecting creators of visual material working in the commercial communications arena over the last 25 years. We will commence with the following points:

• Inequitable/not legally sustainable contracting practice (such as retrospective contracts)
• Inequitable/not legally sustainable contracts (such as copyright assignments)
  The group intends to educate and demonstrate to the commissioning sector the way their contracts may damage their supply base by eroding illustration as a viable profession and therefore damaging the sectors own best interests over the medium to long term.
• Agent to illustrator agreement The group have drawn up a recommended best practice agreement between agent and illustrator
• Group members will also attend the meetings of the Creators Rights Alliance (CRA – www.creatosrights.org.uk) and the British Copyright Council (BCC – www.britishcopyright.org) to participate and report back on discussions and decisions. The committee is comprised of highly experienced leading professionals from both organisations. Specialist copyright and Intellectual Property lawyers will be assisting the committee.

Members of the Group:
Two representatives of SAA: Tamlyn Francis from Arena and Abby Glassfield from Inkshed.
Three representatives of AOI: AOI Managing Director, Ramón Blomfield, Membership Co-ordinator, Derek Brazell and Council member, Andrew Coningsby
Two independent legal advisors: Ruth Gladwin, and Robert Lands from Finers Stephens Innocent LLP (Pro-Action Chairman).

Ramón Blomfield
Ramon became AOI Managing Director in late 2008 and has worked as a brand consultant and designer for Luxon Carra, Nucleus, Conran Design and Landor prior to taking up this position.

Derek Brazell
Derek is an established illustrator who also works for the AOI as Membership and Publications Co-ordinator. He has been closely involved with advising AOI members on contracts and licensing for many years, as well as covering these topics for AOI publications. Derek was invited to join the Design and Artists' Copyright Society (DACS) Creators' Council in November 2006.

Andrew Coningsby
Andrew founded the illustration agency Début Art in 1985 and the illustration specialist Coningsby Gallery in 1994. Début Art is a corporate member of The Association of Illustrators and a member of The Society of Artists Agents. Andrew is dedicated to the advancement of illustration both as an art form and as a highly valuable commercial property.

Tamlyn Francis
Tamlyn has been an illlustrator's agent since 1992 and as director of Arena she represents some of the top artists in their field. Tamlyn feels passionate about promoting good business practice and defending illustrators rights.

Abby Glassfield
Abby has been an agent at Inkshed illustration agency since 2000. Established 21 years ago, Inkshed follows SAA guidelines and as such works to protect illustrators’ rights.

Ruth Gladwin
Ruth is a self employed solicitor who has been advising fine artists, illustrators, photographers and designers for almost 20 years. She has witnessed the enormous changes to the technical landscape and the advent of new media. She also acts for television producers so knows the other side of the commercial coin. Ruth is fully aware of the demands placed on creators in today's market place and is at hand to advise on the legal implications.

Robert Lands, Finers Stephens Innocent LLP - Pro-Action Chairman
Robert is a partner in the Intellectual Property and Media department of leading law firm Finers Stephens Innocent. He advises all facets of the visual arts, acting on behalf of several well known artists, photographers and designers as well as trade bodies such as the Association of Illustrators. He advises the Arts Council of England on intellectual property issues and writes and speaks regularly on visual arts and the law, including to students at both The Royal College of Art and the Royal Academy Schools. He also sits on the Advisory Board of Braziers International Artists Workshop.

Mandate

• To send representative(s) to the Council meetings of the British Copyright Council (BCC) and the Creative Rights Alliance (CRA). The representative(s) have the duty to report back to the committee either in writing or in person to keep the committee informed of all proceedings at all times.
• To liaise with all trade-organisations, societies and lobby groups working with and for creators of images that are used and created for the commercial market place.
• To recommend that contracts extended by commissioning companies or individuals are in keeping/in line with the spirits, intent and letter of the law as stated in the 1988 Copyrights Design and Patent Act
• To propose appropriate action to Council of both organisations when the committee sees fit.
• To review individual problems and address issues concerning professional conduct of illustrators, agents and clients and recommend a fair and legally sustainable solution. The committee is asked to develop a clear grievances procedure that will be proposed to Council of both organisations.
• To establish a standard contract between agents and illustrators that can be recommended to all UK agents.
• To develop a stock illustration/images policy and recommended standards of management that can be proposed to Council of both organisations.

Pro-Action will create a specialized, password protected discussion board on their web site (www.pro-action.co.uk) for committee members and professional image-makers and their representatives to file material of concern - contracts, poor fees etc.

Contact
Please go to www.pro-action.org.uk for Pro-Action contact details.