VLANY
March 2012




VLA Quote of the Day

"Art produces ugly things which frequently become more beautiful with time. Fashion, on the other hand, produces beautiful things which always become ugly with time."
-Jean Cocteau

via Elena M. Paul, Esq., VLA's Executive Director

 

LAW SCHOOL







Greetings!


Before VLA dives lion-like into March, we would like to extend our warmest thanks to some folks who made the last month a lovely one for us:

Risa Puno
Risa Puno, Good Faith & Fair Dealing, 2011 

VLA would also like to congratulate Art & Law Resident Risa Puno, whose maze-game installation Good Faith & Fair Dealing - as seen in our residency's December 2011 Notice of Public Hearing exhibition - was featured in ARTFORUM's scene & herd, as well as in Hyperallergic's review of Nurture Art's Systemic Risk exhibition.

Looking toward the future, the Spring 2012 Law School for Visual Artists is just around the corner - the first class begins on March 20 and registration is now open. VLA is also very pleased to announce the launch of the official website for VLA's Fall 2012 fashion law course. The course will take place in October and November 2012 and is based on the book, edited by Guillermo C. Jimenez and Barbara Kolsun, Fashion Law: A Guide for Designers, Fashion Executives and Attorneys. Last but not least, VLA would like to welcome Staff Attorney Anne Hamilton to our team!

Best,



 

 

 VLA ESSENTIALS


This month, VLA's Development Associate, Diana Siozios, shares her current essentials, from color and films to art picks and books. Check out her favorites!



Color: Teal

Hour of the day: Depends on who I am with, where I am and how the weather is that day.
Perfume/cologne: Alien by Thierry Mugler
Film: Dirty Dancing (the original NOT the sequel): romance + dance =
Food: Dark Chocolate Mousse Cake - I could eat a whole sheet...but seriously.
Corner of NYC: I will let you know when I discover it.
Flower: Spring Gentian
Actress/actor: Leonardo DiCaprio and Lake Bell
Musician/Band: Bon Iver <3
Book: Falling Up by Shel Silverstein
Artwork: Fuji (Edition 89) by Gerhard Richter
Landscape: Mykonos - more austerity measures?...eff it let's go to the beach.

 

FASHION LAW 

Fashion Law

The Experts, Their Book, The Series


"VLA is proud to announce the first-ever course based on the book, Fashion Law: A Guide for Designers, Fashion Executives and Attorneys."


This first comprehensive book on the topic was developed by Guillermo Jimenez and Barbara Kolsun, pioneers of the field as well as academic experts and practitioners, who wrote the book along with a team of highly experienced attorneys and legal experts. This original and comprehensive course will bring you face-to face with these authors and experts and is specifically designed for attorneys and law students interested in Fashion Law, the Fashion Industry and the representation of designers and fashion companies of all sizes. The course will provide in-depth consideration of the legal issues and common business arrangements found in the fashion industry as well as cover recent and ongoing developments in this fast-changing field. Some of the recent cases and cutting edge issues we will explore in class include, Louboutin v. YSL, LVMH v. Hyundai, Marc Jacobs v. Lataillade, and California's Proposition 65.

More info here or download registration form!

 

Success Stories

Every day, VLA helps artists, lawyers, and arts organizations achieve their goals. This month we feature a very touching letter from one of our clients, Theater Arts Education Alliance, whom we placed with the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP for pro bono legal services concerning nonprofit incorporation and tax-exemption. Here's what Theater Arts Education Alliance had to say.

..............................................................................................................

Dear VLA,

I am writing to thank you and Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts for helping us get our new nonprofit, Theater Arts Education Alliance, off the ground. Through VLA we were picked up by lawyers at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP and are now in the final stages of applying for our 501(c)(3).

It's very gratifying to know that an organization like VLA exists. Your introductory seminar to the nonprofit world was extremely informative and provided us with the guidance and understanding we needed to further develop our nonprofit idea and get it to the start-up phase.

In December 2010,we launched our first outreach program,which provides vocational resources such as Show Business, "the performing arts magazine since 1941," to NewYork City public high school students who wish to pursue careers in theater arts.As a result of your organization, our nonprofit has served more than 8,500 students to date. And that's just the beginning!

VLA's assistance was invaluable to the success of our endeavors and, again,my staff and I send our gratitude and thanks.

Sincerely,

David Pearlstein

  

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Upcoming Classes & Workshops

 

Nonprofit Incorporation and Tax Exemption Workshop

When: Wednesday, March 14, 2012, 2 - 5 pm

Where: VLA Auditorium, 1 East 53rd Street, NY, NY 10022

*3.0 CLE credits: 2 Professional Practice and 1 Skills (Approved for Non-Transitional and Transitional Attorneys)


This workshop provides valuable information about starting a nonprofit organization. State issues to be covered include articles of incorporation, bylaws, and the first organization meeting. Federal issues include the Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) and corresponding regulations, application for employer identification number, IRS disclosure rules, unrelated business taxable income, charitable contributions, and restrictions on lobbying. This workshop will also touch on the legal and ethical duties for board members; donor requirements; the new Form 990; intellectual property issues specific to nonprofit tax-exempt organizations; insurance; and employment issues. The Fiscal Sponsorship model will be addressed as an alternative to forming a non-profit organization.


More info here or download registration form


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Forming Your For-Profit Arts Business


When: Thursday, April 12, 2012, 4 - 6pm
Where: VLA Auditorium, 1 East 53rd Street, NY, NY 10022  

This workshop provides valuable information about starting an arts-related business. Covered issues also include: For vs. Non-Profit incorporation, fiscal sponsorship, selecting and protecting business names; the legal and tax characteristics of LLCs an publication requirements, partnerships, and type C and S corporations; choice of jurisdiction; financing your business; employees and independent contracts; and insurance.


More info here or download registration form


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Legal Issues in Choreography and Dance


When: Thursday, April 19, 2012, 4 - 6pm
Where: VLA Auditorium, 1 East 53rd Street, NY, NY 10022 

This class will provide an overview of the legal issues that affect non-profit and for-profit dance companies, individual creators, choreographers, and performers, such as dancers. Topics discussed include: business entity formation, intellectual property protection, rights of publicity, licensing, and labor and employment.

This class will be taught by Elena M. Paul, Esq., VLA's Executive Director. All registration fees are non-refundable.

More info here or download registration form

 

 



About VLAVLA LOGO



Donate to VLA

VLA has seen an increase in demand for pro bono legal services, in-house consultations, legal clinics, and educational programming, and we expect 2013 to be even more demanding.

Would you like to support more VLA legal services and educational programming?

In 2012, your support will make possible:  
  • More legal services to low-income artists
  • More legal services to arts nonprofit organizations
  • More educational programming
  • More scholarship programs
  • More outreach programming
  • Maintaining lower fees for legal services and educational programming
  • More discounts on legal books for artists 

Donations of any size will have a positive impact on our ability to provide vital services for artists and the arts community. $5, $10, $25, or $75 will help. 





VLA LIBRARY
Library and Bookstore


VLA has a small but in-depth book library containing a wealth of materials and resources for artists, arts organizations, and legal professionals. Our books and materials cover diverse areas such as nonprofits, fiscal sponsorships, visual art, music, theater, dance, writing, film, internet, and digital media, all in relation to intellectual property, contracts, licensing, legal entities, free speech, employment law, and grant writing. Access to VLA's library is free and is open to the public Monday through Friday, 12 to 6pm.

Along with providing individuals and organizations with access to the VLA's Library, VLA makes available a wide variety of books for all arts disciplines and organizations. For a list of our publications and books available for sale, please visit our list. For book prices and shipping fees, please contact VLA at our Art Law Line at 212.319.2787, x1.





About VLA

Since 1969, Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts has been the leading provider of pro bono legal services and mediation, as well as educational programs, publications, and advocacy to the arts community in the New York area and beyond. As the first arts-related legal aid organization, VLA is the model for similar organizations around the world. VLA is supported in part with public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and through generous gifts from law firms, corporations, foundations and individuals.




Our Supporters

VLA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal service organization supported in part with public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and through generous gifts from corporations, foundations and individuals. View a full list of foundation and government supporters here; to view a full list of law firm and corporate supporters, click here.







VLANY


Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts

1 East 53 Street, Sixth Floor | New York, NY 10022

P: 212.319.2787 | F: 212.752.6575

http://vlany.org 

http://askthelawyer.info 

 

 

 

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In This Issue
VLA Staff Essentials
Fashion Law
Success Stories
Upcoming Classes

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