VLA September 2012 fresh newsletter!

September 2012

VLA Quote of the Day

"By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest."
-Cunfucius

VLA's Law School for Visual Artists is back in October 2012!

Hello friends of VLA!

We hope that everyone had a great Labor Day Weekend! Please join us in welcoming our new legal fellows, Lindsey Powers, Lidia Kim, Kristine Hsu, and Amanda Mergel, as well as our summer legal interns, Jennette Wiser and Elyse Patterson.

Interested in forming a non-profit organization? Don't miss our Nonprofit Incorporation and Tax Exempt Status Workshop on Wednesday, September 12 from 2:00 - 5:00 PM. The class covers everything you need to know about incorporating and obtaining and maintaining 501(c)(3) status. (And if you are a New York attorney taking the course, you will be eligible for 3 CLE credits.)

Are you an attorney interested in learning about volunteering on one or more VLA pro bono matters? If so, please attend our New Attorney Orientation on Wednesday, September 19 from 1:00 - 2:00 PM.

Good news, visual artists! VLA's Law School for Visual Artists is back! Sign up now, whether you are currently facing legal issues, or just want to be prepared. The Law School for Visual Artists will teach you how to spot the most common legal concerns you might potentially face, such as employment issues, handle contracts, and will provide you with information on basic business models, free speech, and intellectual property. Classes start on October 2. Register here! Space is very limited.

Last but definitely not least, we would like to take this opportunity to extend a warm thanks to the following supporters and friends:

* Morrison & Foerster LLP for hosting our Art Law & Residency Seminars.

* Uprise Art for co-sponsoring our upcoming Law School for Visual Artists.

Best regards,

Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts

Law School for Visual Artists

Legal issues can be overwhelming for many visual artists: relationships with galleries, appropriation practices, damaged artwork, art world employment practices, and collaborations with other artists are just some of the issues visual artists face.

With this in mind, Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts has initiated a course for contemporary visual artists that will make legalese comprehensible and manageable, while giving visual artists an introduction to legal issues necessary to protect themselves and their art projects.

This 5-course, weekly lecture series will cover intellectual property (copyright and trademarks); contracts, consignment agreements, and licensing agreements; basic business models (non-profit and for-profit corporations, LLC's); employment issues with studio and gallery assistants; artist websites; as well as issues in public art and commissioning agreements.

Although fees are now attached, artists can register for individual classes or the entire series.

Course starts October 2, 2012.
Click here to view schedule!

Registration Guidelines

This class series is open to visual artists, and includes class materials.

5-Class Registration Fees:

$125 Artists VLA-members

$175 Artists non-members

$100 Students/All You Can Learn Pass (VLA)

The 5-class registration fee includes the following:

* 5-classes (2hrs each; 30 min Q & A)

* One free Legal Clinic Meeting with an attorney

* Class materials

* 50% discount on a one-year VLA Artist Membership

**You can also register for a single Tuesday session for $50 each.

** To view the complete schedule and topics for each class click here.

Read what past students say about the course.

Have a legal issue?
Call VLA today!

The Art Law Line

A legal hotline staffed by law students and volunteer attorneys who field calls from artists, arts professionals, and arts organizations seeking assistance about their art-related legal questions. The hotline is staffed Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Art Law Line: 212.319.2787 ext. 1

VLA's Art Law Line provides the arts community with legal and business advice, referrals, and information about both substantive legal questions and VLA's services. Every year VLA answers over 10,000 telephone calls, letters, and internet inquiries. Through the Art Law Line, low-income artists and nonprofit arts organizations may be scheduled for an in-house consultation with a VLA staff attorney.

VLA receives over 150 new phone calls each day from callers seeking legal information or advice. We ask that you please be patient while waiting for one of our legal interns to return your phone call. Also, since our Art Law Line is staffed by law students during semester periods, our Art Law Line return-call frequency slows down in-between fall and spring semesters.

Save the Date

Scènes à Faire

VLA's Art & Law Residency Exhibition

Curated by Caryn Coleman

Exhibition dates: October 5 - October 21, 2012
Opening reception: Thursday, October 4 from 6-9pm

Dumbo Arts Center

111 Front Street, Suite 212, Brooklyn, NY 11201
718-694-0831 | www.dumboartscenter.org

Artists:

David Birkin, John Hawke, Carol R. Irving, Jenn Kahn, John Lee, Nathan Manuel, Luis Nieto Dickens, Diana Shpungin, Alex Snukal, Sophia Wallace and James Kienitz Wilkins.

Resident Writer: Jennifer Dean

Resident Curator: Joanna Montoya

More info on the Art & Law Residency Program

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 2012-13, your support will make possible:

More legal services to low-income artists
More legal services to arts nonprofit organizations
More educational programs
More scholarship programs
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.

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

Established in 1969, Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts is the pioneer in arts-related legal aid and educational programs about the legal and business issues that affect artist and arts organizations.

VLA believes that individual artists and arts organizations deserve access to dedicated legal representation and advocacy to ensure that their voices are heard and that their interests are protected. VLA also believes that the arts community should understand certain legal and business matters to protect themselves and their work. To achieve these goals, VLA serves the arts community through 4 program areas: Legal Services with MediateArt; Education; Advocacy; and the Art & Law Residency.

Learn more about VLA here!

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.

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