Insurance FAQs

What insurance is included in Axis membership?

Our Professional and Associate membership both include complimentary access to Public and Product Liability insurance, Professional Indemnity insurance, and a free legal helpline. This is designed for UK-based artists, makers, and art professionals. Please note that we are not selling insurance; it is provided as a benefit of your membership.

Who are the insurers?

The primary policy is underwritten by Hiscox, with excess layers provided by Allianz Insurance PLC and Great Lakes Insurance, giving a total of £15 million. Axis is the policy holder and Axis members are covered under this policy, subject to eligibility.

What does the policy include?

• Public and Product Liability Insurance: £15 million cover across the UK and EU. Excess: £250 per claim.
• Professional Indemnity Insurance: £5 million cover worldwide (excluding claims brought in the USA and Canada). Excess: £250 per claim.
• Free legal, tax and counselling helplines: Legal advice on employment, prosecutions, discrimination, and health and safety. Tax advice. And a confidential counselling line, on its own number. All available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Who is eligible for the insurance?

The insurance covers individual artists, makers, and art professionals based in the UK. It does not cover businesses (unless you're a sole trader or limited company with no employees), groups, or organisations. By signing up for Axis membership, you confirm that you define yourself as an artist, maker, art professional, or creative practitioner working in the field of visual arts. An artist or maker is someone who creates visual artworks, crafts, or engages in creative practices such as painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, photography, sound, performance, live art, ceramics, glass making, metalwork, animation, woodwork, graphics, jewellery, illustration, book work, architecture, mixed media, and installation.

If you are specifically creating work to sell then the insurance covers artists and makers who produce hand-made items, either one-off unique pieces or in small batches. If you are a large commercial operation producing items in large quantities using industrial manufacturing processes/machinery, then you would need a proper business insurance policy from another provider.

How much does the insurance cost?

The insurance is provided as a complimentary benefit of your membership.

• Professional membership (by application only): £55 per year or £5.50 per month.
• Associate membership: £30 per year or £3.00 per month.

How long does the insurance last?

Cover is effective from the date you join, and runs until your membership is cancelled or expires, or until Axis no longer offers it as a benefit of membership.

The policy is written on a claims-made basis. This means a claim is handled by the policy in place when the claim is made, not the one in place when the work was carried out. So if your membership lapses, you are no longer covered for work you did while you were a member. Keeping your membership current is what protects the work you have already done.

What activities does the insurance cover?

The insurance covers a wide range of activities related to an artist's practice, including:

• Fine art
• Painting
• Drawing
• Sculpture
• Printmaking
• Lens-based art
• Photography
• Sound
• Performance
• Live art
• Craft
• Ceramics
• Glass making
• Metalwork
• Animation
• Woodwork
• Graphics
• Jewellery
• Illustration
• Book work
• Architecture
• Mixed media
• Installation

Other general activities covered include:

• Art therapy (non-clinical or medical)
• Exhibitions
• Events (including art/craft fairs)
• Commissions
• Socially engaged art
• Participatory projects
• Performances
• Public art
• Project management
• Education
• Workshops/talks
• Studio practice
• Residencies
• Research

What is Public and Product Liability insurance?

Public Liability insurance covers you against claims made by members of the public for incidents that occur in connection with your artistic activities. This includes injuries to visitors, clients, or contractors as a result of your work, as well as damage to third-party property. Product Liability covers you if the art/craft items you make injures someone or damages their property. The insurance can cover compensation payments and legal costs if someone sues you because they've been injured or their property has been damaged due to your artistic activities.

What is Professional Indemnity insurance?

Professional Indemnity insurance helps protect you if a client claims there is a problem with your work. This type of insurance covers compensation costs and legal fees if a client takes legal action against you for issues such as:

• Professional negligence or mistakes in your work.
• Loss of documents or data.
• Breach of intellectual property rights.
• Defamation or libel.

This insurance is especially important for artists, makers, and art professionals who provide advice, designs, or services to clients, ensuring you are protected against potential legal disputes arising from your art activities.

Does the insurance cover international exhibitions, events, or performances?

Public and Product Liability insurance covers claims in the EU, and Professional Indemnity insurance is worldwide excluding the USA and Canada. However, specific coverage for international exhibitions or events should be confirmed with Axis to ensure all necessary precautions are taken.

Does the insurance cover exhibitions or installations on publicly-owned or private land, including potential damage to the property?

Yes, the policy includes coverage for publicly-owned and private spaces under the third-party property damage or injury section, as long as any damage is proven to be due to negligence on your part.

Does your insurance cover me when I'm installing work in a public space?

Yes, it covers you during installation. The venue should be responsible after the installation.

Does the insurance cover working with heat?

Yes, the insurance covers someone working with heat, but you must follow specific fire precautions and safety measures to ensure coverage. These precautions include:

1. Keeping a fire extinguisher available for immediate use.
2. Removing all combustible materials from the immediate vicinity of the work. If these materials cannot be removed, they must be covered with a proprietary solder mat or non-combustible blanket or screen.
3. Lighting equipment for as short a time as possible before use and extinguishing it immediately after use.
4. Never leaving lighted equipment unattended.
5. Conducting a thorough examination in the vicinity of the work after the termination of each day’s operations. If you cannot complete this examination, you should arrange with the occupier to carry out the examination.

Additionally, members must ensure:

• Conducting risk assessments before using any heat application equipment.
• Obtaining a hot works permit.
• Using safe and well-maintained equipment.
• The insurance does not cover industrial or commercial activities involving the application of heat.

Members working with heat are encouraged to check with Axis to confirm their specific activities are covered under the insurance policy.

Does the insurance cover damage to my artwork?

No, the insurance does not cover damage to your artwork. If you need coverage for damage, loss, or theft of your artwork, materials, or equipment, you would need to purchase a separate insurance policy.

Does the insurance cover personal accidents?

No, the insurance does not cover personal accidents or injuries that happen to you. It only covers third-party claims related to your artistic activities.

Does the insurance cover my employees or volunteers?

No, the insurance does not cover any claims related to injuries or issues involving people who work or volunteer for you. You would need Employers’ Liability insurance for such coverage.

Are there specific activities that the insurance does not cover?

Yes. The insurance does not cover:

• Tattooing, face painting and body painting
• Toiletries, makeup and cosmetics, household goods
• Flower arranging and floristry, toys, pet accessories, food items, packaging
• Engaging actors, singers or musicians in your work. Your own performance and live art practice is covered.
• Authors, meaning writers of fiction. Artists who make book works, and writers on art theory or criticism, are covered.

How do I sign up for your insurance?

To get the insurance, sign up for our Associate membership here.

How much is your insurance?

Our insurance is a benefit of Professional and Associate membership (subject to eligibility). Membership fees start from £3.00 per month or £30 per year.

Why does it cost so little?

As a Charity, we’ve teamed up with Hiscox and taken out a special policy. By dividing the total cost of the policy among all our members, we reduce the cost.

Does your insurance cover theft of my equipment?

No, our insurance does not currently cover theft of artworks or equipment.

Can I add additional cover to the existing policy?

No, due to the group nature of the policy, you can't amend or add additional cover to it. If you need extra coverage, you would need to purchase a separate insurance policy.

Does the insurance cover me for selling my art/craft items in a shop and online?

The insurance covers online sales of your artwork or items related to your art practice. For shop sales, Product Liability insurance covers injuries or damages caused by your items. However, Public Liability insurance for the shop itself should fall under the shop’s insurance policy.

Can artists based outside of the UK join as a Professional or Associate Member and be covered by the insurance?

Anyone can join as a Professional (by application) or Associate member, but to be eligible for insurance cover, you must be based in the UK or have a permanent UK address.

What does the helpline include?

Your membership includes free legal, tax and counselling helplines, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The legal helpline offers advice on the day-to-day running of your practice, including employment, prosecutions, discrimination in the workplace, health and safety, and European law. Tax advice is available on the same number. A confidential counselling line is available on its own number.

Does your insurance include Employers’ Liability insurance?

No, it does not cover anyone who works or volunteers for you.

How do I get my insurance documentation?

You can download it from your member dashboard.

Does your insurance cover businesses, organisations, or groups of artists?

No, our insurance only covers individual artists.