Membership
Insurance Benefits
Looking for insurance? The Scottish Artists Union offers both public liability and studio contents insurance benefits to members. The public liability insurance is free and covers all members who pay the standard membership fee. The studio contents insurance is optional and occurs an additional fee that is variable according to the requirements of the member's practice. All members receive written details of both policies when they join. Please read the information below and our FAQ's in full before joining the SAU or sending us a question about insurance!
In recent years the SAU have been aware that Local Authorities and arts organisations have been placing increasing demands on artists to carry their own insurance when involved in workshops, installations, commissions and exhibitions in public spaces. Previously the host or commissioner of work dealt with this issue but now many organisations will not allow artists to work unless they have at least £5 million public liability insurance.
This insurance can be both expensive and sometimes difficult to arrange for many individual artists. Therefore the SAU – after extensive research – have now secured public liability cover for all members. This policy came into operation on 1st June 2006 and is FREE to all members - there is no increase in membership fee (£35 or £2.92 by monthly direct debit) nor is any planned.
Those new to the SAU need to bear in mind that insurance cover will only commence when your membership application has been processed and your first fee reaches our bank account. This can take up to 28 days and very occasionally longer depending on the banks, public holidays etc. There is no way to expedite this process, so don’t wait until a project is on top of you. Join now!
This public liability policy has been carefully created to cover the majority of needs for an artist’s practice. If members require more specific insurance for their art practice (such as studio contents, professional indemnity or specialised public liability) they can contact the broker directly to negotiate an economic individual quote. In all instances when contacting the insurer please state your SAU membership number and the SAU public liability policy number.
Please note that all SAU membership benefits expire immediately when and if your membership subscription is allowed to elapse and membership cannot be back-dated.
SAU Members Public Liability Policy Summary
INTRODUCTION
Please find below details of cover provided exclusively by the SAU for their members.
This is a summary of cover only. Please refer to the policy wording (issued to members as they join) for full details of the policy cover, terms and conditions.
ABOUT THE POLICY
The insurance policy is underwritten by Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance plc.
STATEMENT OF DEMANDS AND NEEDS
The policy meets the demands and needs of individual members of the SAU (the Insured) who require insurance against their legal liability for injury or damage to third parties arising from their business activities as an artist (see below).
POLICY COVER
This policy will provide you with Public / Products / Pollution Liability Insurance.
DURATION OF THE INSURANCE
The policy will be issued and renewed annually by the SAU – all members will be informed immediately if the policy is cancelled at any time in the future.
BUSINESS
The policy is only operative whilst the individual registered member of the SAU is undertaking the preparation and public display of fine and applied arts, excluding exhibitions or displays involving live non-static physical performances or the use of fire pyrotechnics or explosives.
The policy is also operative whist SAU members are undertaking: residency work and open studio events; the creation and installation of public art works (up to the point of handover); workshops, lecturing and teaching on fine and applied arts (including production of video installations).
TERRITORIAL LIMITS
The Insured is covered within Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man and while temporarily engaged on business visits outside these territories (worldwide).
KEY FEATURES OF COVER
This policy provides cover in respect of legal liability for damages including legal costs for;
- Accidental Injury to any person
- Accidental loss or damage to third party property
- Nuisance and trespass (excluding deliberate acts)
Happening during the period of insurance in connection with the business.
The limit of indemnity will be £5,000,000 on any one claim (any one period in respect of Products Liability).
If you work with hot equipment, please note the Heat Application clauses quoted below:
"Heat Application Warranty
In respect of Section 2 it is warranted that the following precautions are complied with on each occasion there is application of heat involving a naked flame or open heat source or use of hot air paint strippers, grinding wheels, angle grinders, disc cutters or gas space heaters, away from the insured’s premises.
(a) The area of the work will be cleared of combustible material for a safe distance from or beneath the place where such work is being carried out. A safe distance shall not be less than fifteen metres when welding or cutting operations are carried out.
Where such precautions are impractical such material will be covered with non-combustible blankets or screens combustible parts of premises will be similarly protected.
(b) At least one fire extinguisher of a type and capacity suitable for the combustible material and the premises will be kept immediately adjacent to the area of work in full working order and available for immediate use.
(c) Equipment will be lit as short a time as possible before use and extinguished immediately after use.
(d) Equipment which is lit or switched-on will not be left unattended.
(e) A thorough examination for any signs of combustion will be made within or below the area in which work has been undertaken half an hour after the termination of each period of work.
Insured’s Contribution
The Indemnity provided by section 2 is subject to an insured’s contribution of £500 for each event in respect of loss of or damage to property arising from work away from the insured’s premises.
Memorandum
In respect of section 2 it is warranted that any equipment apparatus and the like used for the application of heat are not left at third party premises overnight.
Pottery Kilns/Ovens
The reference to FIRE within the business description does not include the use of pottery kilns or ovens."
WHAT IS NOT INSURED
If any of the points listed below are applicable to your practice or project, the SAU's Free Public Liability Insurance Benefit WILL NOT give you all the coverage you need. As stated above, individual members may be able to arrange extra coverage tailored to their needs with the broker after joining.
- Any equipment or apparatus etc. used for the application of heat left at third party premises overnight.
- Exhibitions or displays involving live non-static performance, any live non-static performance undertaken by the Insured that is being filmed for the purpose of display, any live non-static performance being produced or directed by the Insured for the purpose of being filmed by the Insured.
- Exhibitions or displays involving the use of fire, pyrotechnics or explosives.
- Injury to another SAU member working with the Insured.
- Risks that require more specific insurance i.e. Motor, Marine etc.
- Bodily Injury to any person employed (including freelance and self employed persons under your control).
- Damage to property in the custody or control of the Insured.
- Pollution or contamination unless sudden and accidental.
- Costs of repair, recall or replacement of defective products.
- Advice, design or specification for a fee.
- Fines and penalties.
- The first £500 of a claim for loss / damage arising from work away.
HOW TO MAKE A CLAIM
In the unfortunate event that you need to make a claim the SAU member should contact the insurance broker directly quoting there SAU membership details. Please note that late notification can lead to claims being repudiated.
LAW APPLICABLE TO CONTRACT
English Law will be applicable to the contract of insurance between SAU members and the insurer, unless otherwise stated in the specific Policy's terms and conditions.
The language used in the Policy and any communication relating to it will be English.
DETAILS OF OUR REGULATOR
The broker and insurance company are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
PROOF OF COVER
In most situations, proof of SAU Membership- i.e a valid Membership Card- combined with the information on this website should be sufficient proof of cover. Additionally, members are issued with a policy wording and letter of assurance when the join and again when they renew their subscription. As a matter of law only the most recent issue of this letter can be sent, being reissued annually by the broker immediately after the policy's renewal on April 21st. This may make proof of cover problematic for a minority of members who either a)happen to join in the weeks immediately before, or b)enter into a work commitment that extends beyond April 21st in any given year. If any member has need of further certification to satisfy their client/employer, they should contact the SAU with the details.
COMPARISON WITH AIR POLICY, through a-n
In fairness to our prospective members, please note the following differences between the above policy and a similar benefit offered to AIR (Artists Interaction & Representation) members through a-n The Artists Information Company.
1. TERRITORIES
The SAU Public and Product Liability Insurance territorial limits are within Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man and while temporarily engaged in business worldwide. The AIR policy excludes temporary insurance in the United States of America or Canada.
2. PERFORMANCE
The AIR Public and Product Liability Insurance includes live art and physical performance, while the SAU policy does not cover live non-static physical performance. However the SAU policy does provide cover for the production, teaching and display of video installations, as well as all other forms of teaching, lecturing, workshops etc.
