2010 - the year in review
By Robyn Ayres, the Executive Director of Arts Law
Each year I try to provide a snapshot of what we have achieved over the last 12 months. I am often surprised at how much we have done given the size of the organisation and level of funding received.
2011 iNTune Alice Springs Music Conference – the second!
As the sun sets on iNTune Darwin for another year, the Alice Springs music community gears up for its very own 2011 iNTune Alice Springs Music Conference – the second!
The three-day event promises even more music mentoring, masterclasses, panel discussions and flagship live n’ local music showcases.
A Commonwealth Statutory Cause of Action for Serious Invasion of Privacy
The Arts Law Centre of Australia (Arts Law) is pleased to comment on the Commonwealth Government’s Issues Paper, A Commonwealth Statutory Cause of Action for Serious Invasion of Privacy, (Issues Paper) released in response to the recommendations of the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC).
ALCA is proud to announce the establishment of the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation.
The Arts Law Centre of Australia is proud to announce the establishment of the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation. Through its Artists in the Black pro bono casework service, a new company has been set up to run the Fair with a board chaired by the Senior Curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art at the National Gallery Franchesca Cubillo and key representatives of the Indigenous arts sector. It represents a significant new stage in the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair’s development and growth. This year’s fair will take place at the Darwin Convention Centre from 10-12 August, 2012.
ART+law
Stay in touch with the current legal issues in the arts world by reading Arts Law's quarterly publication ART+law!
Arts Law comings and goings June 2011
Arts Law welcomes Jasmine McHenry and Stacy Adelman, and farewells Ellen Williams.
Arts Law comings and goings March 2011
Arts Law welcomes Shian Barker and Meher Gaven, and farewells Brad Webb.
Arts Law comings and goings September 2011
Suzanne Derry Bahadori
Arts Law Congratulates the WA Music Industry Association WAM Song of the Year Competition
Arts Law Congratulates the WA Music Industry Association on the WAM Song of the Year Competition
Arts Law often contacts the sponsors of arts prizes and competitions urging them to amend their terms and conditions so that they are fairer to entrants and don’t result in a ‘rights grab’ from artists who don’t end up winning anything. We didn’t have to do anything when we looked at the WAM Song of the Year competition terms. It doesn’t take any more from the musicians entering the competition than it needs to. We couldn’t find anything unfair hidden in the small print. Rights are licensed only by the category nominees who allow their songs to be posted online for public voting and category winners whose songs may be included on the compilation CD. Unsuccessful entrants don’t give up any copyright- not even a licence. Well done WA Music!!
Arts Law presents at Next Wave
Arts Law is presenting a workshop at Next Wave's Kickstart Developmental Intensive on Friday 22 July 2011.
Arts Law Pro Bono Awards
Earlier this week on 2 April 2012 Arts Law held its annual Pro Bono Awards Night to celebrate the wonderful support it received from Australia's lawyers who volunteered their time to the arts community in 2011.
Arts Law seeks improved intestacy laws for Indigenous West Australians
Arts Law is lobbying the West Australian Government for changes to the laws concerning the administration of the estate of intestate Indigenous people. Delwyn Everard explains why these changes are required.
Arts Law speaks out against discriminatory law in WA
Executive director Robyn Ayres is quoted today in the Australian newspaper's article calling for the Western Australian government to repeal laws discriminating against Aboriginal people who die without making a will.
Arts Law submission on the National Cultural Policy (NCP) discussion paper
The Australian Government is developing a National Cultural Policy. Arts Law is pleased to provide its submission on the National Cultural Policy (NCP) discussion paper.
Arts Law’s Artists in the Black (AITB) website is now live!
Arts Law’s Artists in the Black (AITB) website is now live!
Auburn Artists Network
Auburn Artists Network invites you to attend a FREE guest presentation from Senior Solicitor Rebecca Laubi from the Arts Law Centre of Australia. The presentation will cover a number of legal topics relating to your practice as an artist. Legal topics include:
- Copyright
- Moral rigjts
- Using copyright material belonging to others and allowing others to use your own copyright material
Australia’s Health 2012 Art Competition
Arts Law has recently become aware of a competition with some unfavourable terms and conditions for artist entrants, and would like to inform artists of the consequences of these unfavourable terms and conditions so you can make a more informed decision about whether you wish to enter or not.
Australian Law Reform Commission Classification Review
Arts Law's submission to the Law Reform Commission Classification Review.
Bush Band Business
In conjunction with Music NT and Alice Desert Festival, National arts grant fund The Seed is proud to support the 2011 Bush Bands Business.
Bush Bands Business is a series of workshops for Indigenous musicians and technicians who are preparing for the Bush Bands Bash concert, a major live performance event held at the annual Alice Springs Desert Festival.
Christmas Closing Dates
The Arts Law office will be closed from 24 December 2010 to 4 January 2011. There will be some closures to our services during the holiday period.
Connect with Arts Law on Facebook and Twitter
Connect with Arts Law on Facebook and Twitter.
Copyright Agency’s 2012 Annual Seminar: Digital Publishing Today
Copyright Agency’s 2012 annual seminar, Digital Publishing Today, will be held in Melbourne on Thursday 23 February at the State Library of Victoria.
Critical conversation: Indigenous Art Centres
Big hART and Desart invite you to be a part of a critcial conversation:
INDIGENOUS ART CENTRES: Hubs for innovation.
Art Centres provide a space for cultural expression, non-welfare based income,employment, local leadership, choice, safety, health and well-being. They are the good stay in indigenous communities that the general public rarely see.
DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF THE DISCUSSION.
Film and Law Seminar - WA
Arts Law will be presenting a Film and the Law seminar at the Film and Television Institute of Western Australia. Wednesday 17 August 2011 - FREE.
Freehills Advises on The Aboriginal Planning Authority
In February 2009 the Arts Law Centre of Australia approached Freehills to provide legal advice, on a pro bono basis, concerning the application of certain provisions of Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority Act 1972 (WA) (Act) to Indigenous persons.
Greater Transparency in Fees charged by Copyright Collecting Societies
The Arts Law Centre of Australia has successfully lobbied Copyright Agency Limited, Screenrights and Viscopy to make changes to the information available on their websites concerning the fees charged by them to administer the collection and distribution of copyright royalties.
Help Arts Law fly
You can play an important role in helping Australian artists by becoming a Guardian Angel or making a general donation.
ICEbreaker #3 LAW FACTS - FREE
ICE Creative Hub presents
ICEbreaker #3 :: Law Facts
What do creative entrepreneurs, artists and cultural producers need to know about the law? Where do you access legal documents like contracts, releases, and collaborator agreements?
During your creative career you will come across all kinds of legal questions from what your business structure should be through to your moral rights.
Indigenous Culture and Festivals
Read the latest issue of the World Intellectual Property Organization’s magazine.
Indigenous Information/Liaison Officer
Arts Law is currently seeking candidates for the position of Indigenous Information/Liaison Officer (FTE). Please email applications to artslaw@artslaw.com.au
Please see here for further details and job description.
Indigenous Screen Creators: What’s The Law?
AITB in partnership with Metro Screen and Screen Australia, is pleased to present a workshop for Indigenous screen creators on 26 May 2011 Sydney.
Intern Reflections: Noemie Arimoto (France)
Noemie Arimoto reflects on her internship at Arts Law.
It’s a cut - legal issues for Film Makers
Are you a Film maker or budding Film maker? Know how to protect your rights! Multicultural Arts Victoria, Youthworx and Arts Law Centre of Australia (ALCA) present a workshop on 21st September 2011.
Justice Greenwood appointed to the Board of Arts Law
We are delighted to welcome newly-elected director The Hon Andrew Peter Greenwood to the Board of Arts Law.
Law of the Written Word
Join Arts Law Centre of Australia Executive Director, Robyn Ayres, and guest practitioners Barrister James Samargis and Dr Mark Williams as they discuss a broad range of topical Arts Law issues affecting writers.
Mabel King exhibition to take place after agreement is reached with the Public Trustee
The long-awaited Mabel King exhibition will be held at the Japingka Gallery, Fremantle from 4 May until 6 June 2012. King was a respected Ngarinyin Elder who painted at the Mowanjum Art and Culture Centre. Sadly, in 2006 she passed away intestate. Following negotiations between the Arts Law Centre of Australia and the WA Public Trustee, the remaining paintings have now been released for sale. We are excited to see these beautiful works, which offer a bold expression of her cultural story. This work was undertaken as part of the Artists in the Black pro-bono casework service.
MUSICIANS IN THE BLACK - Workshop for Abmusic Students
Arts Law is presenting a workshop for music students at Abmusic Perth on Monday 30 May 2011.
MUSICIANS IN THE BLACK WORKSHOP
Arts Law will be launching the workshop component of its Musicians in the Black project at the WAMi Music Festival to be held in Perth from 21 - 28 May 2011.
National Human Rights Action Plan
The Federal Government is developing a National Human Rights Action Plan to outline future action for the promotion and protection of human rights. Part of this Action Plan was the Baseline Study survey on the experience and protection of human rights in Australia. Arts Law contributed a submission identifying issues relevant to the arts.
National Cultural Policy
Federal, State and Territory Arts and Cultural Ministers met in Melbourne last week to discuss the development of the National Cultural Policy.
National Indigenous Photo-Media Forum
The Forum will present emerging and established Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander photographers and photo-media artists with the opportunity to join key photo-media industry specialists, artists and educators from across Australia.
NCIPC to re-examine the terms and conditions of its Indigenous music competition
The National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre (NCPIC) recently released terms and conditions for the 2012 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music Competition that it is running. After looking at the terms and conditions of entry, Arts Law contacted the NCPIC to discuss some of the conditions which we thought were unnecessarily onerous for entrants who did not win anything after entering their song. The NCPIC were really receptive to the feedback and want to create a fairer set of terms and conditions. They are working with Arts Law to improve these. We’ll keep you posted on when the new and improved terms and conditions are released.
NCPIC’s new terms and conditions 10 May 2012
The National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre (NCPIC) has now released a new set of terms and conditions for the 2012 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music Competition following feedback from Arts Law. Arts Law had contacted the NCPIC to discuss some changes which they could implement to make these terms and conditions more fair for the entrants. The NCPIC have made a number of these recommended changes. Importantly, the terms and conditions now do not require that non winning or finalist entries give up any of their rights in the songs they submit. If you are considering entering the competition and would like advice about the terms and conditions before you do so, please get in touch with Arts Law to use our document review service.
New Arts Law website
The Arts Law website has been completely redeveloped and redesigned. We wanted to provide a contemporary and simple-to-use online space that better serves the arts community.
New audio recordings available on the Solid Arts website
There are 35 new audio recordings on the Solid Arts website which cover 5 different arts law topics in 7 Indigenous languages.
Personal Property Securities
Arts Law comments about the impacts of the Personal Property Securities Act and Register.
Positions Vacant
Arts Law is currently seeking cadidates for the positions of Indigenous Information/Liaison Officer (FTE) and Arts/Legal Administration Officer (FTE).
Proposed Private members bill to amend the Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW)
The Arts Law Centre of Australia is proud to make a submission on the proposed changes to the Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW).
Report on the development of the National Performing Arts Touring Framework
Commissioned by the Australia Council to develop a framework for national touring, Harley Stumm and Rick Heath from Arts Strategy, Planning & Project Mangagement have talled with over 300 people from throughout the performing arts touring sector regading the development of the Australia Council's National Touring Framework.
Resale Royalty payments pass $400,000 – Arts Law congratulates the Copyright Agency!!
Resale Royalty payments pass $400,000 – Arts Law congratulates the Copyright Agency!! Copyright Agency Limited has announced that the resale royalty scheme, which was launched last year has been a great success. The number of eligible resales had exceeded 3,600 at the end of March 2012, and over $400,000 in royalties has been paid to artists. The Arts Law Centre of Australia encourages all artists to register with the Copyright Agency, so that they might be contacted when any of their works are eligible for a resale royalty.
Safeguarding Cultural Heritage - The Case of the Sacred Wandjina
Delwyn Everard, Senior Solicitor at the Arts Law Centre of Australia discusses the challenges Aboriginal communities face in protecting their cultural heritage.
SCREEN CREATORS: WHAT’S THE LAW?
The Arts Law Centre, in partnership with the Media Resource Centre, is pleased to present a seminar on the legal issues affecting screen creators - 9 June Adelaide
SCREEN RIGHTS AND WRONGS: THE LEGAL LOWDOWN FOR SCREEN CONTENT CREATORS
Essential for Screenwriters, Directors and Producers, this seminar will explain the fundamental legal issues surrounding screen content creation. Melbourne - Thursday 16 June.
Seminars on the Personal Property Securities Act
Arts Law are holding seminars during May in Sydney and Melbourne, on the impact of the Personal Property Securities Act on artists who deliver works on consignment to a commercial gallery or on loan for an exhibition.
Senate Inquiry into classification
If you are interested in the ALRC Review of the National Classification Scheme, you might also like to read Arts Laws Submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Australian film & literature classification scheme from March 2011.
Stay Tuned: legal issues for musicians
Multicultural Arts Victoria, Music Victoria, APRA and Arts Law Centre of Australia present a legal information session for musicians on 21st September 2011.
Submission to the ALRC Classification Review
Arts Law has made a submission to the Australian Law Reform Commission's review of the National Classification Scheme as part of the first stage of public consultation to make sure the arts are heard in this debate.
System Upgrade
Dear Arts Law Supporters,
We are currently doing a system upgrade. As a result, over the next couple of weeks our ability to answer your query as quickly as usual will be affected. We endeavour to get back to our usual response time as soon as we can. Your patience during this period will be greatly appreciated.
The Arts Law Centre of Australia’s 2011 Tasmanian Tour
Arts Tasmania in partnership with The Arts Law Centre of Australia is pleased to invite you to a series of free information sessions with Robyn Ayres on issues concerning the law and the arts.
The National Cultural Policy Postponed!
The National Cultural Policy Postponed!
It’s nearly 20 years since the release of Paul Keating’s “Creative Nation” and the art sector had hoped that the Federal Government was releasing its new strategic vision for the arts with the Budget. It wasn’t. Apparently, as the Age reported last week, current fiscal constraints are such that “there are no spare funds to allocate to a new arts policy” at the moment. However, Arts Minister Simon Crean has assured the arts sector that the Policy will be finalised later this year and will take into account the findings of the recent Convergence Review and the forthcoming review of the Australia Council. Arts Law is a member of lobby group ArtsPeak which has made submissions on the draft policy.
TOP 10 ISSUES AFFECTING INDIGENOUS ARTISTS
Arts Law created Solid Arts as an online Indigenous intellectual property resource with free legal tools and practical advice to help Indigenous artists and those working with them to better understand legal issues relevant to Indigenous art and intellectual property.
WA Governments administration of Aboriginal wills and estates
Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Cultural Centre (KALACC) passes a resolution urging the repeal of the Government of Western Australia's administration of Aboriginal wills and estates.
Walking a Tightrope – Rights and Risks in the Performing Arts
Co-presented by the Arts Law Centre of Australia, Theatre Network Victoria, Ausdance Victoria and the Australian Circus and Physical Theatre Association, with a presentation by senior solicitor Rebecca Laubi. Issues to be covered include copyright and moral rights, online distribution and OHS (insurances etc). There will be Q and A and a facilitated discussion with the attendees.
THE WORKSHOP IS FREE
Wandjina Sculpture
The controversial Katoomba stone sculpture depicting Wanjina has been vandalised.
You are the originator – how can you protect your rights?
Arts Law Senior Solicitor Rebecca Laubi along with Peter Bolam of Bolam Legal (Qld) will be presenting a seminar at QPIX this Thursday, June 2nd.