The Arts Law Centre of Australia is the national community legal centre for the arts. Arts Law is a not for profit company limited by guarantee which was established with the support of the Australia Council in 1983 to provide specialised legal and business advice and referral services, professional development resources and advocacy for artists and arts organisations.
How can we help
Arts Law gives preliminary advice and information to artists and arts organisations across all artforms on a wide range of arts related legal and business matters including contracts, copyright, business names and structures, defamation, insurance and employment.
Limits to our service
There may be occasions when the Arts Law Centre is unable to provide assistance. For example, if one party in a dispute or transaction has already contacted us for advice; or if it is considered more appropriate for a matter to be referred elsewhere. Also, Arts Law can only advise on arts related matters.
Telephone legal advice service
To lodge your request for legal advice please contact us by telephone during business hours. Callers outside the Sydney metropolitan area can contact us on our tollfree number by dialling 1800 221 457. Please note that we do not accept requests for legal advice by email.
Referral service
If the matter is beyond the limits of our service, or requires a solicitor to act on your behalf, the Arts Law Centre can assist by recommending a suitably qualified solicitor from our national referral panel.
Document Review Service
Where appropriate, arrangements can be made for Arts Law subscribers to have a face-to-face or telephone Document Review consultation with a volunteer lawyer from private practice.
Face-to-face document reviews are organised with volunteer lawyers on a regular basis in Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. Where possible a telephone document review may be arranged for subscribers outside these centres.
Alternate dispute resolution
Mediation is increasingly acknowledged as an important alternative dispute resolution mechanism. The Arts Law Centre of Australia's mediation service is specifically designed to provide affordable and accessible mediation for artists and arts organisations. For further information please contact us.
Publications
Arts Law publishes a range of materials to assist arts practitioners including free information sheets, guides, checklists, sample contracts with explanatory notes, seminar papers and booklets, plus our quarterly newsletter Art+Law.
National lecture and seminar program
On request, the Arts Law's legal officers prepare and present lectures, workshops and seminars on topical issues concerning law and the arts; specially tailored to meet the needs of our audience. Our legal officers are also available to assist in curricula development and review for tertiary and vocational training purposes.
Research and advocacy for law reform
The Arts Law Centre of Australia undertakes a crucial role in responding to Government on the impact of laws and government policy on arts practice and in advocating for reform.
Artists In The Black
The employment of an Indigenous lawyer as well as an Indigenous information/liaison officer are part of Arts Law’s initiative to provide enhanced legal services to the Indigenous arts community. Whilst Arts Law has been providing services to Indigenous artists throughout our 20-year history, when we look at the rip-offs and exploitation still occurring, the case for specialised services is overwhelming. Arts Law is very pleased to receive funding for the project from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Board of the Australia Council. We would also like to acknowledge the support of the NSW Ministry for the Arts in providing funding for office renovations to accommodate our new staff.
The aims of the project are to:
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Increase access by Indigenous artists, art organisations and Indigenous communities to legal advice on arts law issues, including Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP).
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Increase access to legal information about arts law issues and develop appropriate publications.
Increase understanding and awareness of Indigenous artists and communities of arts law issues through an education programme. -
Provide informed advocacy work on ICIP issues and other arts law issues affecting the Indigenous community.
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Develop arts law expertise within the Indigenous community.
Arts Law is excited about this opportunity to enhance the advice and advocacy services we provide to Indigenous artists and Indigenous communities. We look forward to working with our new staff and advocacy partners to achieve a greater level of understanding and recognition of the rights of Indigenous artists.
For more information please contact us.