The Artist Protection Kit: Contracts and Copyright Toolkit for Nigerian Visual Artists

Your painting turns up on a T-shirt you never licensed. A client takes the portrait and stops answering your calls about the balance. A gallery sells your work and you hear about it three months later, if at all.

None of this happens because you’re careless. It happens because the paperwork wasn’t in place before the work left your studio.

The Artist Protection Kit fixes that. It gives you the contracts Nigerian visual artists need most, plus a plain-language guide to your rights under the Copyright Act 2022. Every document was drafted under Nigerian law by an art lawyer, to protect you as the artist.

What’s inside

• Start Here guide: tells you which document to use, when, and how, in two minutes
• Know Your Rights: a 9-page guide to the Copyright Act 2022, covering what you own, your moral rights, your resale royalty, and what to do when someone copies your work
• Commission Agreement: for portraits, murals and custom pieces, with a deposit, approval stages, a cancellation fee, and copyright that stays with you
• Artwork Sale Agreement: for selling directly to collectors, with title passing only on full payment
• Certificate of Authenticity template: to issue with every work you sell
• Gallery Consignment Agreement: for leaving work with a gallery, covering ownership until you’re paid, agreed commission, monthly statements, insurance and buyer details
• Licence Agreement: for brands, publishers and printers who want to use your image, with fees and royalties, quality approval, and no AI training or NFTs without your say-so
• Collaboration Agreement: for joint projects, with ownership, costs, profit split, credit and an exit plan

Every agreement is an editable Word file with fill-in brackets, a schedule for the deal details, and a “Notes for the Artist” page that explains the key clauses. They open on your phone in Word, Google Docs or WPS Office.

Choose your option

Templates Only: ₦50,000

The complete document pack: all the agreements, the certificate of authenticity template, the Know Your Rights guide and the Start Here guide.

Starter Kit: ₦100,000 (launch price for the first 50 artists)

Everything in Templates Only, plus:

• registration of one of your works with the Nigerian Copyright Commission, handled for you
• a 30-minute review call with a lawyer to go through your questions or a deal you’re working on

Who it’s for

• Emerging and mid-career painters, sculptors, illustrators, photographers and mixed-media artists
• Artists selling directly to collectors or through Instagram
• Artists approached by galleries, brands or commissioning clients
• Art schools, collectives, residencies and incubators equipping their artists (ask about group rates)

Why it’s worth it

One unpaid commission or one unlicensed print run costs more than this kit. Use the templates as many times as you need, with every client, buyer and gallery.

FAQ

Is this based on Nigerian law?

Yes. Every document is drafted under Nigerian law, including the Copyright Act 2022 and the Arbitration and Mediation Act 2023.

I’m not a lawyer. Will I understand it?

Yes. Each agreement comes with plain-English notes, and the Start Here guide walks you through filling it in, step by step.

Can I use the templates more than once?

Yes, as often as you like, for your own art practice. You may not share or resell them.

Can I edit them on my phone?

Yes. They are Word files, and the Start Here guide includes Google Docs links for phone editing.

What if my deal is big or complicated?

Use the templates as your starting point, and contact a lawyer for anything high-value or unusual, or when the other side sends you their own contract.

How do I get my NCC registration and review call (Starter Kit)?

After purchase, the Start Here guide gives you a form to submit your work for registration and a link to book your call.

Can a gallery, school or residency buy for its artists?

Yes. Buy the Starter Kit or Studio Bundle for a whole cohort and save 30% per artist on groups of 10 or more.

Refund policy

Because this is a digital product delivered instantly, all sales are final. If a file is faulty or won’t open, email [email protected] and we’ll replace it straight away.

Disclaimer (at the bottom of the page)

The templates and guide are general and are not legal advice on your particular situation. Always consult a lawyer.