The Arts Law Centre of Australia (Arts Law) 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 for the Arts in 1983 to provide specialised legal and business advice and referral services, professional development resources and advocacy for artists and arts organisations.
Arts Law provides legal advice and information on a wide range of arts related legal and business matters including contracts, copyright, business structures, defamation, insurance, employment and taxation to artists and arts organisations across all art forms.
Arts Law is staffed by 7 full-time and 5 part-time employees, of which 5 are qualified lawyers. The Executive Director, Robyn Ayres, is responsible for the day-to-day running of Arts Law. Volunteer lawyers and students play a crucial role in delivering our services.
The volunteer Board of Directors is led by the Hon. Margaret Beazley AO, President, and includes experienced legal practitioners and representatives from a number of Arts Law’s key stakeholders.
Arts Law receives funding from various sources, the primary source being the Australia Council for the Arts. In addition, Arts NSW, Office for the Arts (Prime Minister and Cabinet), Screen Australia, Arts WA, and Arts SA provide recurrent funding.
Vision
Arts Law’s vision is to foster a society that promotes justice for artists and values their creative contribution.
Mission
Arts Law envisages an arts community which understands their legal rights, has sufficient business and legal skills to achieve financial security, and carries out their arts practice in a non-exploitive and culturally aware environment. Arts Law will continue to provide low cost, practical, specialist legal advice and services (including advocacy, publications and education) to equip artists and the cultural sector to achieve this vision.