SAA constitution and aims
The Society of Artist’s / SAA Agents Constitution & Aims
1. The Society of Artists Agents was founded in 1992 to:
(a) Promote the Benefits of any artist being represented by member agents.
(b) Promote high standards of ethics and professionalism and to standardise terms and
conditions.
(c) Promote and pursue co-operation between members and clients and to recommend business
guidelines and to protect the interests of its members and the Artists they represent.
2. Membership is open to agents who:
(a) Have fully marketed and represented by name, for a period of no less than 2 years, the work
of Artists for whom they act.
(b) Are reimbursed by a commission charged on the illustration work handled by them, agreed
with the individual artist. Artists are entitled to the artist percentage amount based on the total
gross figure that is billed by agents to any client with regard to any illustration production or
license related transaction.
(c) Are prepared to agree in writing that they will abide by the Constitution and Ethics of the
Society.
3. (a) Prospective members will be required to complete an application form which will be
reviewed by the Membership Committee and put forward to the Society Members.
(b) Application for membership shall be sent to the Administrator of the Society (admin@thesaa.com) for consideration by the membership. Any member has the right to object to a prospective member’s application and in the case of the objection, this should, in writing to the membership clearly stating why the Society should not entertain the application. In the case of a disagreement or dispute over a new member’s suitability, members will be balloted and the majority prevailing.
(c) Membership will only be granted by a process of a secret ballot, requiring a unanimous vote
by all attending members.
4. Upon election, new agencies will pay a subscription annually, pro-rata to the July renewal time..
5. All members agree to abide by the Constitution and Code of Ethics of the Society, and in the
event of violation, shall be required to appear before the Ethics Committee. The Ethics
Committee shall have the right to terminate the membership of any member found to be in breach
of the Code of Ethics and Constitution, and refusal to appear before the Ethics Committee shall
be deemed grounds for termination of membership.
6 (a) New members shall be required on request to give a list of artists they represent, and to agree that such lists be available for free circulation within the Society.
(b) New members should provide a statement from their certified accountant stating that the
agency is solvent and the business is fiscally professionally run in the year up to the audit.
7. The affairs of the Society shall be governed by a council of five members, elected by ballot,
serving for two years, being replaced in rotation by two other members at twelve-monthly periods
unless otherwise agreed by the Society.
8. (a) The members of the council shall from time to time where desirable, invite or elect other
members of the Society to serve on subcommittees where their experience and expertise may be
of value.
(b) Member agents are required to serve as SAA members for a period of 1 year before they are
eligible to serve on a sub-committee within the Society.
9. (a) Membership is open to companies or firms and not individuals.
(b) Any representative of a member agency may attend meetings of the Society.
(c) Member Agents are invited, but not required to attend meetings throughout each year.
Failure to do so will necessitate re-application for membership in the following year.
10. Any change of the Constitution or Code of Ethics must be balloted, and shall be passed if the
membership votes in favour by a majority in excess of 60%.
11. Each member agency is entitled to only one vote.
