The UK is set to introduce a system to standardise the recording of auction sales of art and antiques. With the aim of providing data and statistical evidence of the auction sector’s output, art professionals hope it will help the government to better understand and appreciate the impact of UK’s art industry.
The Standard Industrial Classification code (SIC)—known as UK SIC 47.921—will encompass “activities of retail auctioneering houses for art works, antiques and antiquities”.
Its forthcoming launch was announced by Paula Orrell, director of the Contemporary Visual Arts Network (CVAN), England, during a panel discussion at this year’s Art Business Conference in London, held 8 September, which saw over 280 attendees meet at a new venue for the event, the Royal College of Physicians.
The panel was moderated by The Art Newspaper’s art market editor-at-large Melanie Gerlis and also featured Paul Hewitt, director general at Society of London Art Dealers; Alison Cole, Director of The Cultural Policy Unit and also The Art Newspaper’s editor-at-large; and Tom Kiehl, chief executive of Music Limited.
At the heart of the discussion was a call for a new association or body for the visual arts, which would bring together representatives from both the commercial and public sectors.
“Since the pandemic there’s been a real need for a shared combined approach from the whole ecosystem. We’re currently very disparate in our approach: artists working independently, commercial galleries, public sector, auction houses,” Orrell said. She explained that the new SIC would likely not come in to use until 2031 but, nevertheless, marks an important step forward in the recognition and visibility of the sector’s economic contribution, with implications “beyond any single political cycle”.
Hewitt was keen to stress that the proposed new body would not “replace” pre-existing trade associations and bodies across public and commercial functions of the visual arts but would, instead, seek to “amplify’ the impact and evidence across the sector.
“You don’t get much time [to speak or present information to Government officials], so you want the arts to be able to communicate as an ecosystem, with one voice around collective interests,” Cole argued. She also highlighted the need for a high-profile public figure or ambassador to champion the visual arts, pointing to the influence that such strategies have had in the music and sport industries.
The panel’s conversation echoed broader calls for greater support of the industry which were raised throughout the day’s agenda -with speakers exploring the needs of artists to better understand and be helped with creating sustainable business models, new approaches to philanthropy and pressing discussions as to how advances in AI can advance efficiency and security for businesses and organisations, which face mounting overheads and reducing funds.
While plans for a sector-spanning entity or trade body remained at the “starting block”, several interested bodies are said to be in discussion, with Hewitt adding that the panel was designed to act as a “call to action to get involved” and encouraging anyone interested invited to contact CVAN.
