16. DACS: Reconnecting with Artists

In episode 16 of Reworked, Rachael Wilson talks to the Gilane
Tawadros, Chief Executive at DACS, a not-for-profit visual
artists’ rights management organisation.


DACS was set up by artists for artists to help transform the
financial landscape for visual artists, campaign for artists’
rights and champion their sustained and vital contribution to the
creative economy.


Yet, sometimes it is easy to lose sight of your organisation’s
core purpose. Gilane talks about the importance of DACS
rediscovering its purpose and reconnecting with the people it is
meant to serve: to support artists’ work and their ability to
produce their artwork sustainably. Without having this deep
understanding of artists’ needs and what these needs will be in
the future at the heart of the organisation, it becomes
increasingly difficult to remain relevant.


Cultural change does not happen overnight. Rachael and Gilane
discuss the steps DACS took to implement a cultural change to
help reconnect with artists and embed across all levels of the
organisation the mantra – does this help artists? – to help build
confidence and clarify DACS core purpose to both artists and the
outside world.


Connect with Gilane on Twitter.


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