A Q&A with Griffiths & Armour on acquiring artwork in the UK. We cover everything you need to know on provenance, privacy & your responsibilities as a collector/art buyer.
The more educated the collector, the more ownership they have over the Due Diligence process - a key component to the success of an art acquisition
Recently the Arcarta team sat down with Edward Dunphy from Griffiths & Armour to chat about what information high net worth individuals should be armed with before acquiring artwork.
We discussed everything from provenance, protecting personal information, to buyer autonomy and AML responsibilities.
Thanks G&A for a great discussion! Full Q&A below.
Arcarta: In January 2020 the UK transposed the EU’s 5th Anti-Money Laundering Directive into national law. Similar to the measures used by banks, the 5th Directive asks art market participants to collect, verify and analyse their client’s personal information to ensure transparency and the legitimacy of funds.
This is called Customer Due Diligence, and is now required of all Galleries, Dealers, Advisors & Auctioneers on any sale over €10,000.
Arcarta: For the buyer, this means that for any purchase of art over €10,000 they will be asked to provide (as a minimum) personal information such as a piece of photo ID, and proof of address.
For those seeking to buy artwork through a corporate structure the company will need to provide information for both the company and for those with significant control (25% or more). If buying through a trust information will be requested from both the trust and trustee(s).
This means transactions that previously did not require the involvement of multiple parties, may extend past the broker of the transaction, involving the ultimate client directly.
This can be frustrating for an art buyer who has established relationships with dealers and advisors, but what is important to remember is that these requirements are in place to not only protect the gallery but also protect the buyer.
As the value of artwork increases, the risk present in the transaction increases as more parties become involved. Customer Due Diligence is a way to ensure that both buyer and seller are legitimate - meaning that there is a lower risk of acquiring work that has passed through the wrong hands.
Arcarta: Regardless of nationality, if a client is buying artwork from any UK or EU registered art business they will need to follow the same procedures.
However, different countries have different legal requirements and may not require the same processes. Due to the current conflict in Ukraine, there has been a renewed push for AML legislation in order to ensure the legitimacy of funds entering the art market. Specifically in the US it looks likely AML legislation will pass into law as early as this coming year.
Arcarta: In the UK the two governing bodies that are responsible for regulating the art market in regards to AML and Sanctions are HMRC and OFSI. However, in day to day operations the gallery, advisor or dealer is the one responsible for conducting due diligence checks. The customer/or the buyer is therefore only obligated to supply the required information.
Arcarta: Broadly speaking AML regulation is about transparency - due diligence is a set of processes that build a picture of you as a client, so that everyone is confident transacting. This transparency is key in keeping the UK economy legitimate.
Specifically in the current political climate, regulation is a way to ensure that corrupt Russian funds do not enter the art market, ensuring everyone is doing their part.
Arcarta: When buying a piece of artwork it is always important to look for markers of authenticity such as signatures, certificates of authenticity and a chain of ownership (or provenance). Most galleries will conduct these investigations themselves, and should be sharing this information willingly.
However, if this proof is not being materialised or you have reason to investigate further there are databases to help you look up artwork to ensure its legitimacy and provenance. For example, Interpol has an app which is open for public use where you can scan your artwork to check if it is registered as stolen, or you can use third party databases/services to assist before proceeding with an acquisition.
Arcarta: Recently Artsy reported on how cybersecurity infrastructure is a growing need for galleries. Dealing in high value transactions, email and social media hacking can occur when PDFs and personal information are exchanged online. As a collector or buyer it is important to ask galleries how they plan to exchange information securely.
Some things to consider/ ask are:
You can also take the sharing of your information into your own hands, sharing information in password protected folders. Or, you can opt to share information via platforms like Arcarta; integrating banking level security and infrastructure to protect your information. This allows you (the collector) to verify and control who can view personal information.
In the recent UBS x Art Basel Art Market Report it was found that of the top 10 concerns of High Net Worth collectors, increased regulation and identification requirements were number one. As a buyer it is important to educate yourself on what is required of you under regulation.
By equipping yourself with all the facts, you ensure that you are an informed participant in art transactions, complying with confidence.
You can also utilise platforms (such as Arcarta) to store and send your documents securely to galleries, taking ownership of your information and ensuring its safety.
At the end of the day collectors and buyers are a key component of the AML process.
By providing your information, asking the right questions and taking ownership of how you share your data, you ensure the due diligence process is simple and safe; protecting yourself and contributing to a legitimate economy.
Edward Dunphy is Head of Private Clients at Griffiths & Armour, a leading independent insurance broker with offices in London, Liverpool, Manchester, and Dublin. In addition to providing businesses and organisations with tailored insurance and risk management services to clients, Griffiths & Armour have a long and established Private Clients team with a proven track record in providing bespoke insurance policies for individuals who require distinctive unique cover and protection for many unique aspects of their lifestyle.
Arcarta is the first Due Diligence Network for the art world. Trusted by over 300+ members of the international art market, active in 135 countries and with over 25,000+ buyers sharing information, our mission is to help non-compliance professionals in the art market succeed with complex AML regulation.
Arcarta is a Due Diligence platform for the art market and is used by over 300 Art businesses internationally.
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