California Lawyers for the Arts California Arts Blog

Onward Through the Fog of Over-Incarceration

Alma Robinson — Thu, 09 May 2013 21:33:40 GMT

California Sen. Curren Price, Chair of the Joint Committee on the Arts, presented an informational hearing on arts-in-corrections on May 3 at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles. A video of the full hearing is embedded in an article published on-line in the Los Angeles Times.

Stating that he wanted to examine ways to reduce the "prison pipeline," Sen. Price challenged the audience of more than 100 persons: "We need to use all our tools to help identify the problem and come up with solutions...Keeping in mind the victims of heinous crimes, we also want to rehabilitate those who have gone down the wrong path. Upon release, we want this to be a one-way ticket."

A roster of passionate speakers at the hearing included actor Tim Robbins, artistic director of The Actor's Gang, and musician and songwriter Wayne Kramer, who will receive CLA's Artistic License Award in Santa Monica on June 30. As a co-founder of Jail Guitar Doors and an ex-offender, Kramer has provided musical instruments and facilitated music lessons for incarcerated persons throughout the country.

Based on his work for the past six years with The Actors Gang Prison Project, Robbins stated that the arts are an essential component of rehabilitation and create the "fundamental change" needed for ex-offenders to adjust to the pressures of life when they are released.

With a recidivism rate of 70%--possibly the highest in the nation--and a federal court mandate to reduce the severe overcrowding in our state prisons, California needs to implement every rehabilitation strategy that works in order to make sure that those who are released have a solid chance to live productive lives outside.

In 2009, a federal judicial panel ordered California to reduce the state's inmate population by 33,000 persons; this order was affirmed by the US Supreme Court in 2011. Through "realignment," the state has shifted many offenders to county jails, while reducing the flow of new inmates convicted of non-violent crimes to state prisons. While steady progress has been made, the state still needs to reduce the prison population by about 10,000 persons. Decreasing recidivism would help.

The Correction Department's own longitudinal study of parolees between 1980 and 1987 showed that released inmates who had been engaged in arts-in-corrections programs had significantly better parole outcomes and lower rates of recidivism. One year after release, arts-in-corrections participants had a “favorable” status rate of 74.2% compared to 49.2% for state parolees as a whole. Two years after release, 69.2% of the AIC parolees retained their favorable status in comparison to a level of 42% for all released inmates. Why wouldn’t we want to increase this “medicine?”

The California Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts and several private foundations are now supporting a demonstration project organized by California Lawyers for the Arts in collaboration with the William James Association. Updating his 1983 research that showed that arts-in-corrections programs reduce disciplinary incidents in correctional facilities, Dr. Larry Brewster of the University of San Francisco is conducting a "pre and post" evaluation of arts participants to measure changes in behavior and attitudes.

Assemblyman Ian Calderon, Vice-chair of the Joint Committee on the Arts, underscored the power of art to address recidivism in the state corrections system. The Arts, Entertainment, Sports,Tourism and Internet Media Assembly Committee which he chairs has approved a $75 million allocation for the California Arts Council, which could include substantial funding for arts-in-corrections and a number of other needed community arts programs.

Carol Hinds, the mother of an inmate and Secretary of the Inmate Family Council at California State Prison-Sacramento, described how her son had been greeted by gangs seeking his affiliation when he entered age 18. After three years of violence, he was moved to a different yard, where he was recruited into arts-in-corrections programs. He discovered musical talent that he did not know he had and has performed classical guitar pieces in a recital for visitors. Fighting tears, she said, "I have my son back. I don't have him for Thanksgiving and birthdays, but I have him back."

Alma Robinson, Executive Director

California Lawyers for the Arts

Small Copyright Claimants Need Access to Justice

Alma Robinson — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 18:34:38 GMT

At the direction of Congress, the US Copyright Office is investigating the potential of setting up small claim procedures for copyright disputes. If enacted, this would be the biggest change in the legal infrastructure of intellectual property in decades.

The third and final request for comments ends on April 12, 2013.

In written comments to the Copyright Office and at an hearing at UCLA in November, California Lawyers for the Arts supported the concept of special procedures for adjudicating small claim copyright disputes as an access to justice issue. Copyright issues are exclusively a matter of federal jurisdiction, but taking a case to federal court, with its arcane local rules and discovery procedures, can be expensive and time consuming. A survey by the American Bar Association showed that the average cost of a copyright infringement lawsuit in Los Angeles through the end of discovery, was $292,000; the average cost through the end of trial and appeal was $517,000. Unless actual damages are truly substantial, the copyright holder will be without an effective remedy in federal court.

Copyright litigation is also a hazardous business. If an infringed work has not been registered with the Copyright Office within three months of original publication or before the alleged infringement, whichever is later, the copyright holder will be out-of-pocket for attorneys' fees and costs. And the promise of attorneys' fees if the copyright holder (and alleged victim) registered the work prior to infringement is still a risk. A losing plaintiff may have to pay the attorneys' fees of the defendant. Furthermore, if the copyright holder fails to accept a federal "Rule 68" settlement offer that proves to be equal or greater than the amount of the judgment, the copyright holder will be responsible for litigation costs, which, as noted above, can be quite expensive. A small claims process could well serve to provide a forum for legitimate claims that avoids these financial hazards.

Many interesting procedural questions are being teased out by the legal policy staff at the Copyright Office: the amount in controversy (suggestions ranged from a maximum of $10,000 to $50,000), whether parties can be represented by attorneys, should the process be mandatory or voluntary, who will make the decisions, can they be appealed and if so, to what body? Should there be filing fees? How much discovery should be allowed? Should there be injunctive relief, which allows the claimant to stop an alleged infringement? Stripping the process of costly motions and discovery, how would evidence be presented?

What kinds of work should be included? At hearings in New York and Los Angeles, representatives of some music publishers argued for an exception for music, stating that their own agreements with artists provide for adequate enforcement of copyright claims. Along with Parliament Funkadelic singer-songwriter George Clinton, who participated in the Los Angeles hearing, I argued for including music along with all the other artistic genres.

CLA and many others, mindful of the need to reduce travel time and expense, envisioned a national court with telephone or video appearances and electronic document submission. Such a national small claims court would also eliminate the possibility of local rules and procedures sprouting up in federal courthouses around the country.

Whether parties can be represented by attorneys in the proposed small claims court is a thorny issue. While state courts vary on this question, attorney representation is not allowed during small claims court proceedings in California. In any case, I recommended putting in place a system of legal advisors who could help claimants evaluate their cases and prepare for trial. This has worked well for small claims court claimants in California. In the meantime, at CLA, our statewide attorney panel helps evaluate any potential litigation, including small claims, with fees based on three income tiers--pro bono, modest means or regular.

Citing CLA's experience with alternative dispute resolution since 1980, I argued for establishing a robust alternative dispute resolution (ADR) program that potential claimants would learn about before initiating litigation, perhaps through a small claims adviser. With participants in many locations, and even abroad, CLA's Arts Arbitration and Mediation Services has administered many mediations and arbitrations by telephone. In January, with the participation of U.S. District Court Judge Thelton Henderson and Howard Herman, the director of the court's highly regarded ADR program, we presented a mediation training for intellectual property attorneys who are interested in serving as neutrals, regardless of the outcome of the small claims proposal for copyright disputes.

So, when are the proposed small claims procedures likely to be implemented?

This discussion was initiated by a representative of a photographers' organization in 2006 when the Copyright Office was investigating the issue of orphan works. The House Judiciary Committee subsequently asked the Copyright Office to submit a report on small claims issues and possible solutions by September, 2013. There have been two comment periods and two public hearings, and the Copyright Office has issued one final request for comments. At the hearing in Los Angeles, we learned that the US Patent and Trademark Office is beginning its own investigation into the feasibility of small claims procedures for patent and trademark disputes.

Stay tuned.

Alma Robinson, Executive Director

California Lawyers for the Arts

with contributions from

MJ Bogatin, Co-Chair of the CLA Board of Directors

CLA Supports Federal Resale Royalty for Visual Artists

Alma Robinson — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 20:47:18 GMT

The US Copyright Office has been asked by Congress to review how the current copyright legal system affects and supports visual artists; and how a federal resale royalty right for visual artists would affect current and future practices of groups or individuals involved in the creation, licensing, sale, exhibition, dissemination, and preservation of works of visual art.

California Lawyers for the Arts responded with a statement emphasizing our strong support. CLA, then Bay Area Lawyers for the Arts, advocated for the passage of the California Resale Royalty Act, which was enacted in 1976 and went into effect in 1977.

Our organization has vigorously defended the law because we believe that it provides a important economic incentive as well as remuneration for visual artists whose work increases in value over time. In fact, more than 80% of the visual artists who responded to our recent survey said that the resale royalty is an important incentive for them to continue working as visual artists. Through US copyright protection, statutory and industry standards, musical, literary and performance artists benefit from the continuous resale of their works. Singularly, visual artists have not had a national framework for reaping such rewards. California remains unique in the nation in providing visual artists with the resale royalty, which was modeled on the European "droit de suite."

California Civil Code Section 986, the California Resale Royalty Act (CRRA), provides that an artist is entitled to a resale royalty of 5% if the work is resold for a profit and for a gross sale price of at least $1,000. The royalty can only be waived in a written agreement for a higher royalty. The work must be an original work of visual art (defined as a painting, drawing, sculpture or original work of glass). The royalty is due if the seller resides in California or the sale takes place in California and the artist must be a US Citizen or a California resident for at least two years.

When a group of art dealers and collectors sued in federal court challenging the constitutionality of the CRRA in Morseburg v. Balyon v Mayer, BALA was an amicus and provided the artist-intervenors with representation in an effort led by BALA Board Member Jack Davis and Hamish Sandison, then Executive Director. The US District Court upheld the law in 1978. Judge Robert Takasugi praised the law "as the very type of innovative lawmaking that our federalist system is designed to encourage. The California Legislation has evidently felt that a need exists to offer further encouragement to and protection of artists." In 1980, the US Court of Appeals affirmed the lower court's judgment.

Once again, the CRRA is being challenged in federal court. Artists Chuck Close, Laddie John Dill, and Robert Graham claimed in a lawsuit that Sotheby's Christie's and EBay were not paying royalties. On a motion to dismiss without any evidentiary hearings, US District Court Judge Jacqueline Nguyen held that the Act is unconstitutional based on the Commerce Clause of the US Constitution. L.A. attorney Eric George, who represents the plaintiffs in the class-action suit against the auction houses, told the LA Times: “For a single federal judge to invalidate the law, more than 35 years later and without allowing any evidence to be taken, marks a departure from established constitutional law. We are confident, as both sides have always believed, this case will ultimately be resolved by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which already upheld this very statute in 1981.”

Arguments that the requirement to pay resale royalties would drive the art business outside the state of California have not been validated over time. A federal resale royalty law will obviously eliminate any remaining arguments that the resale royalty interferes with interstate commerce. Furthermore, a federal law would align the United States with Article 14ter of the Berne Convention, “Droit de suite” in Works of Art and Manuscripts, which provides the following:

(1) The author, or after his death the persons or institutions authorized by national legislation, shall, with respect to original works of art and original manuscripts of writers and composers, enjoy the inalienable right to an interest in any sale of the work subsequent to the first transfer by the author of the work.

(2) The protection provided by the preceding paragraph may be claimed in a country of the Union only if legislation in the country to which the author belongs so permits, and to the extent permitted by the country where this protection is claimed.

(3) The procedure for collection and the amounts shall be matters for determination by national legislation.

It is time for the United States to take its place in the community of nations on this issue.

Alma Robinson, Executive Director

California Lawyers for the Arts

Arts Advocacy for the 2012 Political Season

Alma Robinson — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 03:57:40 GMT

In this political season, we have great opportunities at every level of government to stoke the flames for strengthening the arts in our schools and communities and as part of our everyday lives. The party platforms that were approved at the Republican and Democratic National Conventions have given us a starting place.

Arts for LA, citing Americans for the Arts, noted that the Democratic Party calls for “continuing public funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, for the National Endowment for the Humanities, and for programs providing art and music education in primary and secondary schools.” The Republic party platform does not state a position on arts and culture, according to Arts for LA, but does emphasize that education "in which all students can reach their potential is critically important to America’s future." Since we support public funding for the arts and we like working with potential, so far, so good.

But can we hold their feet to the fire?

Every candidate for elected office should be asked what they intend to do, if elected or re-elected, to support arts funding and programs in their jurisdictions, whether that position is on the City Council, the County Board of Supervisors, the School Board, the State Assembly or Senate, or the US Senate or House of Representatives. And let's not forget the candidates for District Attorney, County Sheriff, Mayor, Governor (we don’t have a Governor’s race this year in California, but 11 states do) and for President!

The best four-letter message during this time of fiscal constraint is SAVE: The arts save money and save lives.

Students whose schools offer arts education are more likely to stay in school and graduate from high school on time. Findings from Staying in School, a 2009 study of New York City schools by The Center for Arts Education, showed that the schools in the top third in graduation rates offered their students the most access to arts education and other resources supporting the arts, such as field trips and strategic partnerships with arts organizations.

How the arts save money and lives: Students who finish high school are more resilient to delinquency, are less likely to become engaged with the criminal justice sector and more likely to become taxpaying, productive citizens.

The cost of maintaining people in California's correctional facilities (estimated at $50,000 to $60,000 a year) should inspire policy makers to seek ways to strengthen the infrastructure of the arts in our communities and our penal institutions as well as in our schools. Research by Dr. Larry Brewster of the USF School of Public Administration has shown that arts programs save money by reducing the costs of disciplinary infractions incurred by state prisoners. In coordination with the William James Association and California Lawyers for the Arts, he is designing a new study to examine behavioral and attitudinal changes experienced by residents engaged in arts programs. In the context of California's court-mandated "realignment" of prisoners from state facilities to county jails and probation programs, arts programs can contribute to the kind of quality rehabilitation which is needed in order to reduce recidivism and save the state money in future years.

The arts also provide life-long health benefits. Research from the Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory in the Communications Department at Northwestern University shows that early music training enhances brain functions for life while Richard Powers of the Stanford Dance Department reports that social dance can enhance defenses against dementia as well as help with physical mobility.

Need more evidence? The California Arts Council maintains an on-line research library that lists hundreds of reports organized by interest areas.

An easy way to identify the elected officials and candidates in your district is to use The Americans for the Arts Action Center. This site sorts inquiries by zip code and provides users nationwide with contact information, profiles, donor lists, and other information about elected officials and candidates. A Capwiz portal for California residents is maintained by California Arts Advocates.

Local candidates' forums are useful for framing issues for the voters, who can then compare the candidates' commitments and hold them accountable going forward. For example, candidates for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors were recently invited to respond in person to questions about their commitment to the arts at the San Francisco Arts Town Hall. In addition, the candidates’ written positions were submitted in advance and posted on line.

As a 501(c)3 tax-exempt, non-profit organization, California Lawyers for the Arts can’t support specific candidates for public office, but we sure can vigorously advocate for arts funding as a public policy priority.

Following the cost saving argument, here's the second part of our pitch: The arts enhance the quality of life for all of us as individuals and strengthen the community bonds that make our nation great.

Shouldn’t every kid have a chance to learn a musical instrument or to write poetry or to choreograph a dance piece or to be in a play -- skills as fundamental and challenging as reading and math? Furthermore, learning through the discipline of the arts provides a strong foundation for learning reading and math. Music, you might say, is structured as a set of mathematical exercises.

Don’t our seniors deserve opportunities for a better quality of life through arts activities?

And doesn’t everyone deserve a chance to be creative, and to have opportunities to experience art and expand their cultural empathy? If this "secret sauce" is just for the privileged and talented, and is not accessible to all of our people, we will have only ourselves to blame for the demise of American civilization.

If we speak up, will you?

Alma Robinson, Executive Director

California Lawyers for the Arts

Grieving with Aurora

Alma Robinson — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:58:39 GMT

When he reflected on America's movie theatre massacre, President Barack Obama, speaking at the annual convention of the National Urban League, asked parents, neighbors and teachers to ensure that young people "do not have that void inside them."

The joyless face of the shooter, James Holmes, seen at his preliminary hearing, speaks volumes about that void.

Imagine the productions he may have created if he had been drawn into a theatre company; or how he may have found a voice singing with a group or playing in a band, or the social skills he may have learned if he was in a dance group? Would he have needed to disrupt a carefree evening at the movies by creating hundreds of real life tragedies?

Several of the victims' families told CNN reporter Anderson Cooper that they wanted the media to ban speaking his name, as if that could prevent him from claiming his spot in our growing pantheon of villains. Indeed the neon orange hair and proclamation that "I am a joker" certainly signal a need for attention.

What can we do to prevent the warped development of these twisted egos? The "strict fathers" have responded that more laws won't help. Governor Mitt Romney said he favors a "common sense" approach: "I do believe that we need to do a much better job of identifying people who present a risk to others, and how to go about doing that is something that is going to require a lot of introspection and a lot of effort." But, could we find them before they succumb to the void?

Recently I attended a theatre workshop presented by Tim Robbins and Sabra Williams of The Actors' Gang with residents at the California State Rehabilitation Center in Norco. These men had completed an eight-week course learning the techniques of Commedia del'Arte. In rapid sequence, masks representing anger, fear, sadness and joy were put on and removed. This skill usefully transfers to real life as one participant reported that he had learned how to manage emotions: "I will use this emotion and not be a victim of it." Said another: "This is what I've learned--I'm a master of my mind and not a victim of my thoughts."

I asked if they thought their lives would have been different if they had had the opportunity to develop their artistic talents when they were in school. Yes, several nodded in response. Hands shot up.

We don't yet know the Joker's full story. But we can imagine that his talents could have employed to direct a different plot line if better opportunities for self-expression had been in his path.

In his speech to the National Urban League, President Obama continued: "It’s up to us to spend more time with them, to pay more attention to them, to show them more love so that they learn to love themselves -- (applause) -- so that they learn to love one another, so that they grow up knowing what it is to walk a mile in somebody else’s shoes and to view the world through somebody else’s eyes. It’s up to us to provide the path toward a life worth living; toward a future that holds greater possibility than taking offense because somebody stepped on your sneakers."

In Roman mythology, Aurora is the Goddess of the Dawn. Would that we could realize a gleaming light of hope, and the much needed rebirth of American civilization, by transforming this dark tragedy into an opportunity to protect all of our children from the madness that is erupting across the land.

Alma Robinson, Executive Director

California Lawyers for the Arts

Support Your Local Law Library

Alma Robinson — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 00:57:09 GMT

The San Francisco Law Library, the first in the state, is at risk of being closed due to lack of funding. If this can happen in literate, progressive San Francisco to an institution that is 140 years old, it can happen anywhere in the State of California. Are your alarm bells ringing? There is a pattern here, as the resources that we depend on for our democratic way of life--the free flow of information, educational institutions and quality journalism are receiving diminishing support. Just go to the internet, we're advised.

In addition to doing personal and organizational research, I have frequently referred members of California Lawyers for the Arts to the law library to find the answers to their inquiries about legal issues. To cite one extraordinary example, I encouraged the late Jo Hanson, an artist who was concerned with a tax audit, to go to our public law library in order to research relevant tax regulations and rulings. She used her findings to write a unique book, which was sold nationally, to help artists prevent and prepare for IRS audits.

Many solo practitioners, small law firms and non-profit legal services organizations like CLA depend on our public law library to maintain updated reference materials and subscription services that we cannot afford. The resources that are otherwise available on the internet are scarcely comparable. Furthermore, you cannot do the kind of in-depth reading and research which is needed to resolve complicated questions through internet browsing. Authenticity of randomly linked sources is often unverifiable.

CLA's board of directors voted a resolution in support of adequate financing for the San Francisco Law Library at our last meeting on June 2. If you are concerned, please write to members of the San Francisco Mayor and the Board of Supervisors to ask for their support for adequate funding for the library. It's a democratic cause.

Alma Robinson, Executive Director

California Lawyers for the Arts

Alec Baldwin cites CLA in Nancy Hanks Lecture

Alma Robinson — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:53:44 GMT

CLA received a noteworthy mention in Alec Baldwin's Nancy Hanks Lecture at Arts Advocacy Day yesterday in Washington, DC. Describing the federal 2009 "Economic Stimulus" Program which provided $50 million to the National Endowment for the Arts to help arts organizations preserve 5,000 jobs, Baldwin noted that a Fox News contributor had attacked a list of NEA grantees:

"Her list focused on grants to groups such as: a Center for Puppetry, an International Accordian Festival, the Maine Indian Basketmaker Alliance, the California Lawyers for the Arts, all attacked without reference to quality, as if just words like 'puppetry', or 'basketmaker', or 'accordian' or 'lawyer' were to be ridiculed. It seemed like the rest of her list focused on any organization or project that had words like nude, gay, lesbian, ritual, or California in them."

Baldwin then challenged the assembled arts advocates: "You know what I want all of you to do now, don’t you? I want you to go home tonight and write a poem that contains the words basketmaker, accordion, lawyer, nude, gay, lesbian, ritual, and California in it. C’mon. It’ll be fun!"

We sent this exercise to devorah major, 3rd San Francisco Poet Laureate and a CLA mediator and facilitator par excellence, who quickly rose to the occasion:

It is a taxing day

tho’ neither gay nor lesbian

I've still the stress of April dues

I’d love to be nude

lying in the sun

turning a walnut brown

a ritual of summer

on some California beaches

but instead I am looking for

an accordion file to sort my receipts

so I’ll not need a tax lawyer down the way

perhaps this would be a good time

to become a basketmaker.

It, at least,

would be fun.

It must be time to start advocating for additional arts funding so that we can save more jobs in our communities, keep our kids in school instead of juvenile halls and inspire our best analytical thinking. On Capitol Hill, Alec Baldwin called for a $1 billion expenditure for the arts, arguing: "You can't find the spending in federal dollars that has the resonance that these programs do."

Arts funding is good for our communities, good for the soul, and good, as well, for our national economy and revenue base. After all, working artists pay taxes!

Alma Robinson, Executive Director

California Lawyers for the Arts

How to Enjoy Paying Taxes

Alma Robinson — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 17:36:14 GMT

This may be counter-intuitive, but if you are a California tax filer, you can increase the pleasure of sending money to Sacramento by making a voluntary, tax-deductible, contribution for the California Arts Council with your tax return, which is due this year on Tuesday, April 17.

You will find a list of optional contributions, including the Arts Council Fund, which is coded "415" at Line 110 on the last page of your California tax form. Although your gift can be made in any amount, we recommend contributing at least $25 to the arts fund. You can add it to your state taxes and deduct it next year from your federal taxes for 2012.

California Sen. Curren Price, speaking at a California Arts Council event to launch the Million Plates Campaign in Los Angeles last week, warned the audience that if the minimum threshold of $250,000 is not reached this year, the voluntary arts contribution will be discontinued.

In 2011, when no minimum amount was required, 16,580 donors gave nearly $165,000 to the arts fund. Franchise Tax Board records reveal that, although more donors contributed in the first two months of this year compared to the same period a year ago (3,401 versus 3,297), this year's average gift has been lower ($7.59 versus $7.88). In order to reach the $250,000 threshold for 2012, we need to increase the number of contributors and the average amount, thus, our recommendation of at least $25 or more, if you can. Joint filers can double this suggested amount to $50 or more.

According to the Franchise Tax Board description, "Contributions will be used by the Arts Council to place teaching artists in California schools, revitalize rural and cash-strapped sections of California's economy using arts and cultural initiatives, support local communities through partnership with city and county arts councils, and assist statewide arts networks.

Are you concerned about administrative overhead? Accountability? The California Franchise Tax Board continues: "No portion of your contribution will be used for the Arts Council's overhead or administrative expenses. The Arts Council Fund will go directly to Arts Council programs. All Arts Councils programs are held to strict standards of transparency and are subjected to rigorous peer review panels."

California Lawyers for the Arts will honor Sen. Price, who chairs the legislative Joint Committee on the Arts, for initiating the voluntary arts contribution at our Artistic License Awards benefit event in Santa Monica on Sunday, April 29. This will be a great celebration, but the very best tribute we can bestow on Sen. Price is to make sure that this opportunity to increase arts support is not wasted.

Please let your family, friends and colleagues know that they can help our common cultural mission succeed by making a generous contribution to the Arts Council Fund with their state income tax return. It can only feel good.

Alma Robinson, Executive Director

California Lawyers for the Arts

Finding your Bliss in Cuba

Alma Robinson — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 22:45:10 GMT

Pick your passion--Latin jazz, salsa dancing, delicious seafood, vintage cars, historic preservation, tropical baseball, contemporary art, Hemingway trails, environmental restoration, religious fusion, colonial history, comparative law or international relations---and you can find your bliss in Cuba.

Partying with the Buena Vista Social Club at the Hotel Nacional

CLA recently organized a government-approved, educational excursion to Havana with Cuba Tours and Travel. Our group of 36 included lawyers from New York, Texas, Illinois, California and DC, as well as artists and other professionals. Our Cuba trip photo gallery has some additional photographs.

On our first night in Havana, we walked through the brightly lit Plaza Vieja to the inner courtyard of the Santo Angel Restaurant. Skewered lobster dramatically mounted n individual stands was served to each guest as the rich baritone voice of Ivan Pozos serenaded us with violin, bass and trumpet players. Every day after that, the wonderment grew.

Cuba is famous, of course, for its restored vintage cars, which are ubiquitous. Reuse and recycle seem to be a driving theme of the Cuban landscape.

Large-scale renovation is taking shape in Old Havana, as funds generated from commercial activity are being reinvested in this UNESCO-designated world heritage site. The land use lawyers in our group saw an analogy to the tax-increment financing which has, until recently, fueled redevelopment projects in California (see our post dated Feb 8, 2012.) One by one, old buildings are being evaluated to see if they should be restored or demolished and replaced. Displaced families are invited to return after renovation or relocated elsewhere.

Under the administration of President Raúl Castro, Cuba is seeking more foreign investment through international joint ventures. An overall goal is to raise the standard of living by increasing income from tourism and other sources while maintaining the best outcomes of the Cuban revolution, including universal health care and free education up to the level of advanced degrees. In November, 2011, the government announced that Cubans could buy and sell property--to other Cubans. Small businesses, including in-home restaurants, called "paladars," are encouraged, but, there's a limit on how many rooms one can rent, how many taxis one can own, etc.

As a condition of our trip, we all agreed to do professional research, which included: a seminar on the Cuban legal framework with Professor Laura Gomez of UCLA School of Law; a visit with attorneys who specialize in international arbitration at the Bufete de Servicios Especializado, a Cuban law firm; and seminars with Cuban judges and law professors organized by Dorys Quintana Cruz of the Union Nacional de Juristas de Cuba. During our visit, the National Congress of Cuban Attorneys was taking place. We were told that they were being assigned the task of working out the legal arrangements for the changing economic landscape.

We also visited Las Terrazas, in the Pinar Del Rio province. In this now bucolic "biosphere" reserve, six million trees were planted to restore land that was stripped for agriculture during the era of Spanish colonialism. At lunch at the Casa del Campesino, we were introduced to "ropa vieja," a classic Cuban dish of shredded meat prepared over a wood-burning stove.

We brought gifts to the Coco Project, which provides art and handicraft lessons to

seniors and children in Havana's El Serro

neighborhood. In addition to art supplies, we distributed baseball caps donated by the law firm of Bryan Cave and the LA Dodgers.

Projecto Coco is led by art students Lisandra Ramirez Bernal and Osmeivy Ortega, a husband and wife team who volunteer their time to teach the students and elders. A few days later, this dedicated couple met us at the Instituto Superior de Arte, the national art academy, which was built on the sweeping grounds of the pre-revolutionary Havana Country Club.

Recycle, reuse and reclaim....

Alma Robinson, Executive Director

California Lawyers for the Arts

Sometimes You Ought to Take the Deal

Alma Robinson — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:19:58 GMT

Around California, redevelopment agencies are folding up, moving existing contracts to other city and county agencies, archiving their files and working out termination agreements with personnel. You might question the decision of the California Redevelopment Association and the League of California Cities to sue the state to try to reverse Governor Jerry Brown's decision to eliminate the state's allocation for redevelopment agencies in this year's budget. After all, an agreement between the legislature and the governor for a reduced allocation had been worked out, with more robust funding returning in later years. But the agencies pressed forward with their lawsuit. Late last year, the California Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the 60 year-old economic development program could be eliminated.

We often see this kind of result in the troubled land of the litigants. A settlement is proposed, but the stubborn claimant proceeds full steam ahead, eyes on the prize of a better damage award in court or in arbitration. In one case where we provided representation to a litigant in a dispute with a software company, the plaintiff refused a $300,000 settlement offer after trial, choosing instead to take his chances with an appeal. Before the appeal was concluded, the defending corporation went into bankruptcy, leaving the plaintiff with nothing.

This often occurs in alternative dispute resolution as well, when a party rejects a mediated compromise in order to pursue a better result through arbitration or litigation. Sometimes the award is disappointing, and, except for very narrow grounds, it cannot be appealed in court.

Randall Kiser, an attorney who is an expert in litigation decision analysis, has analyzed more than 11,000 attorney-client decisions in actual cases. He concluded that attorneys and clients are "not particularly accurate forecasters of trial results." His 2008 book, Beyond Right and Wrong, describes the psychological and institutional factors that often impede sound decisions and provides suggestions for improving personal and group decisions.

When facing catastrophic losses, as the Redevelopment Association was in last year's state budget negotiations, parties often act recklessly, said Kiser in a brief telephone conversation, perhaps even "hydroplaning above reality." Neuroscience suggests that the perception of a loss or a gain actually activates different parts of the brain. When facing a gain, the client or attorney may be more analytical, using the pre-frontal cortex, where "executive function" resides; whereas, when facing a loss, emotional responses rooted in the amygdala, such as fear, may dominate the decision process at the expense of rational analysis.

After discussing the redevelopment situation with him, I asked Kiser for some suggestions that people and businesses might incorporate to make better decisions. He offered two ideas from other researchers.

Citing Gary Klein, he suggested doing a "pre-mortem" at the beginning of a project. Sit down with everyone involved to imagine a catastrophe at the end of the project and write down all the things that could go wrong. After alerting the players to all the potential hazards, they can implement steps to prevent them.

And this quote from futurist Paul Saffo is worth pondering: "Good decision makers and forecasters have strong opinions lightly held." After making a forecast, look for all the reasons you could be wrong, and then set out to disprove yourself.

The bottom line: wise counsel encourage their clients to take reasonable settlement offers, but clients sometimes refuse the advice. Compromise is often the better course, even if it means swallowing some outrage and giving up the chance for "ultimate justice." The risk of harm may be greater than the potential reward.

Alma Robinson, Executive Director

California Lawyers for the Arts

With Thanks to Mr. Jobs!

Alma Robinson — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 19:34:43 GMT

Notes from 1985 and beyond:

"Mouse"

We didn't realize it, but when our group of five VLAs went to Apple Computer's training facility to learn how to use the first MacIntosh computers, we were becoming "early adopters." CLA (back then we were "BALA" or Bay Area Lawyers for the Arts) had successfully applied to Apple for a computer grant. The grant came with two conditions: you had to apply with a "network" of similar organizations and, you agreed that, if selected, you would attend a three-day training program at Apple headquarters in Cupertino. During the training, Apple trainers and software engineers hovered over us, watching how we adapted to the new equipment.

"Press"

We'd recruited four sister art/law organizations for this adventure, and they willingly came -- from Georgia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts in Atlanta, Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, Washington (DC) Area Lawyers for the Arts, and Lawyers for the Creative Arts in Chicago. The computers were a great boost to our productivity and the training gave us an unparalled opportunity to work closely with like-minded colleagues, sharing our challenges and goals.

"Drag"

Back in our office at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco, it was a joy to replace our sewing-machine style Osborne with its tiny gray-scale screen! We were now on our way to the future with new Lotus Jazz software provided by Apple and new proficiency in word processing and spread sheet software using our new Macintosh.

"Click"

The Apple Computer community grant program, sadly, is no more. But the gift that kept giving was the opportunity to collaborate. Through the network grant, we learned how to work with other organizations towards common goals. Soon after our success with Apple, we worked closely with the San Francisco Arts Commission to establish a joint project that provided technical assistance to artists needing studio space.

"Double Click"

Meanwhile, we collaborated with the San Francisco Unified School District to create arts internships for high school students from disadvantaged communities--this program is still going strong and has served more than 600 students. We also launched Arts Resolution Services, a national mediation program funded by the NEA and the Hewlett Foundation, with other art/law organizations around the country. Through a collaboration with the Arts Administration Program at Golden Gate University and the San Francisco Department of Human Services, we provided job training services for persons receiving public assistance. Even California Lawyers for the Arts was born of a collaboration--between BALA and Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts-LA--that resulted in a statewide footprint for our services.

"Click Shift"

Steve Jobs was, of course, the master collaborator, whose vision and imagination drove him to work with the movie, music and telecommunications industries to develop incredible consumer products. No doubt he'd understood, when Apple's community contributions program was conceived, that we'd get more "bang for the buck" working in collaboration with other organizations.

Thank you, Steve, for opening the door for us to learn how to collaborate across geographic and sector lines, in ways that stretched our vision and enlarged our role and impact significantly. We see the through line.

Alma Robinson, Executive Director

California Lawyers for the Arts

California Arts and Education Collaboration: CREATE the STATE

Alma Robinson — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:38:22 GMT

As Congress and the US Department of Education wrestle with how to fix No Child Left Behind, arts education advocates are hoping that the acknowledged failures of “bubble testing” and blaming teachers will reveal a path to a more robust public education program that includes the arts. Malissa Feruzzi Shriver, Chair of the California Arts Council, has a passionate concern that arts education has been “privatized,” available only in private schools and wealthier public schools where parents can afford funds for enrichment “extras.”

California was one of five states that participated in the 2011 Education Leaders Institute funded by the NEA to develop arts education strategies. In addition to Malissa, California's team included Craig Cheslog, representing State School Superintendent Tom Torlakson, and Larry Powell, the Fresno County School Superintendent who became a media star when he voluntarily reduced his annual salary to $31,000 for the next three years in order to save more than $800,000 for programs in his District.

The CAC team brought the ELI platform back to California under a new banner: "CREATE the STATE: Core Reforms Engaging Arts to Educate." Convening for two days in mid-October at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, artists, educators and administrators from both sectors heard several speakers who had ignited the Chicago meeting, including:

Education Professor Yong Zhao from the University of Oregon declared that current US educational policies have “eroded our strength.” Questioning concerns about the achievement gap between the US and Asian countries, he asked, “Why should test scores in two subjects matter more than anything else?” While US children may compete badly on math and science test scores, he said, our kids rank #1 in confidence, which promotes innovation and creativity, passion and entrepreneurial drive.

Indeed, Joan Straumanis, former program director at the National Science Foundation and President of Antioch College, questioned why art needs to “work,” any more than philosophy or mathematics. “Much of what we teach in mathematics is not good for anything," she said. Robust learning is long term, a foundation for further learning and transferable to novel situations. It’s not about learning a “fact,” not testable on a “bubble test,” and is, in fact, hard to test. Effective learning, she said, is multi-modal, engaged, self-motivated, pleasurable and social. Kids learn better in groups, teaching each other. In some important areas, she described how arts learning provides a cognitive transfer to other important skills, for example, music to language perception; acting to emotional intelligence.

During lunch, Fresno County Schools Chief Larry Powell shared with me his concern that more than 60% of African American students in Fresno fail to complete high school; approximately 60% of these drop-outs are involved in the criminal justice system within three to five years. He has made increasing arts education in his district one of his top three priorities, along with anti-bullying and early childhood education.

Lack of access to arts programs in schools is a signal for poor educational outcomes and greater involvement with the criminal justice system. This, then, can be viewed as a civil rights, as well as a socio-economic issue. Indeed, an analysis of neighborhoods with high rates of crime and incarceration shows a pattern of low educational achievement--not a surprise. In a recent report, Misplaced Priorities: Over Incarcerate/UnderEducate, NAACP researchers mapped neighborhood statistics from Los Angeles, Houston and other cities, concluding that: "The ultimate outcome is a daunting visual that clearly shows a correlation between high incarceration neighborhoods and low school performance. In five cities where school performance is depicted, the low-performing schools tend to be located in the areas with the highest incarceration rates … When viewed through a geographic lens such as this, the nation’s $70 billion investment in prisons is evident in not only the criminal justice involvement of the most vulnerable communities, but also in their levels of educational attainment."

The conclusion: Lack of access to arts education in schools contributes to high drop out rates, leading to greater involvement with the criminal justice system. Assuming that you agree, the most important question for future action remains: how do you develop the public will to ensure needed funding for arts education?

Kevin Kirkpatrick of the Metropolitan Group consulting firm provided some pointers about political framing for the CREATE the STATE audience, conceding that "a consistent and sustainable public will doesn't exist for the arts and arts education." Even if public opinion polls support arts education, how do you make the transfer to financial investment? Drawing on the work of linguist George Lakoff, Kevin suggested building a public campaign that targets the values of the "strict fathers" including innovation, a level planning field (instead of "fairness,") and an education that helps kids "compete and win" while reducing the burdens of crime and criminal justice.

The bottom line: The communities that most need arts education in the public school system are the least empowered and organized to demand it. That leaves it to the rest of us to have already taken care of our own, to care enough about the greater good to make the change we need. After all, the greater good is also for us. A quality education that includes the arts will pay dividends in public safety, economic development and a healthier society.

The challenge: Go out of your comfort zone and find a "Strict Father" to convert.

Alma Robinson, Executive Director

California Lawyers for the Arts

Learning to Work and Play

Alma Robinson — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 21:19:42 GMT

Following his compelling research for the William James Association documenting the benefits of arts-in-corrections programs, Dr. Larry Brewster, professor of public administration at the University of San Francisco, is completing a new book about ex-offenders who were engaged in art programs while they were incarcerated.

Recently, he shared some highlights from his current research with members of the California Arts Council at their meeting in San Francisco. Ex-offenders said they had learned how to work and how to complete projects. Discipline and focus. Some of them talked about having something positive to share with their families, giving their children something they could say with pride about their parents. Becoming better role models. They also learned how to work with people of other ethnic groups--an opportunity to get past the racial divides that cause so much friction inside our prisons--and outside. Remarkably, of the 28 persons he has interviewed, eight are earning at least a partial living from arts-related work based on skills they learned while incarcerated.

Dr. Brewster's forthcoming book with photographer Peter Merts, Arts-in-Corrections: A Path of Discovery and Redemption, provides new arguments for advocates for arts education, not only in our prisons and jails, but also in schools and communities. Learning how to work, how to finish an assignment, how to accept suggestions for improvement and how to work with people who don't look like you are important survival skills in 21st Century California.

These skills were in great evidence at a recent performance of Twelfth Night produced by Marin Shakespeare Company with inmates at San Quentin. Following a rousing standing ovation, cast members expressed their gratitude--they were learning how to "play" together in a safe environment. One inmate pointed to the opportunity for restorative justice when he spoke poignantly about the opportunity to "give back" to society for the harm he acknowledged that he had caused.

In recent years, the Golden State has raced to the bottom with the highest recidivism rate in the country (an estimated 70% of released prisoners return within three years), while only 70% of high school students manage to graduate. More than 2/3ds of incarcerated persons are school drop-outs, according to a report by the Pew Partnership for Civic Culture. In addition to the huge waste of human potential, the cost of corrections is consuming state income that could otherwise pay for infrastructure improvements, education, health care and other needed services.

While not the only solution, the arts provide significant benefits by keeping kids motivated to stay in school, and helping ex-offenders stay away from the revolving door of recidivism. It is clear that the price of not addressing these gaps is just too great.

CLA is working with the William James Association and California Arts Advocates to restore arts-in-corrections programs. Our current statement about these issues describes this effort in more detail.

Alma Robinson, Executive Director

California Lawyers for the Arts

Moving Forward from 9/11 with a Lesson from Aristophanes

Alma Robinson — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 19:36:23 GMT

The commemorative ceremonies and related coverage of the 10-year anniversary of the 9/11 disaster nearly wiped me out. I had intended to browse lightly through the news reports, correctly anticipating that going into it too deeply would reawaken the original anxiety I had experienced after seeing the planes crash into the Twin Towers again and again. Instead, I found myself immersed in Sunday's non-stop television coverage, which included a two-hour reprise of the documentary made by the French filmmakers Jules and Gedeon Naudet. These brothers had set out to profile a rookie firefighter and found themselves at Ground Zero documenting one of the biggest stories of our era.

Knowing the terrible price that we Americans have exacted on ourselves and the rest of the world in reaction to 9/11 made my angst even worse this time around. While we continue to mourn for the victims of the 2001 attacks who were cut down in the prime of their lives, where is the grief for our 6,000+ American war dead and the more than 100,000 citizens of Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries who also paid with their lives? And now that these misadventures have nearly bankrupted our country, how in the world are we going to rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan?

Brown University's Watson Institute for International Studies estimates in Costs of War that there are more than 3 million Iraqi refugees, whose displacement will have an untold impact on politics in the Middle East and the rest of the world for generations to come. No doubt the injustice they are experiencing in the name of democracy has radicalized thousands of youth whose futures have been torn to shreds.

Meanwhile, our own infrastructure and public institutions are crumbling. Public funds for arts and humanities, scientific research and space exploration, education, job training, health, housing and social services--and even the US Post Office--are shrinking due to "the deficit." Medicare and Social Security, which guarantee a safety net for our elders, are being viewed with skepticism and derided as "entitlements." It is clear that the federal deficit has largely resulted from mortgaging the costs of 10 years of war.

But the 9/11 evening news hour also brought some hope for change. Code Pink ladies were enthusiastically waving peace signs on the Golden Gate Bridge. Their demonstration reminded me of a theatrical piece that urges women to exercise their ultimate leverage in order to stop war. In Aristophanes' Lysistrata, which was first performed in Athens in 411 BC, the protagonist urges women to end the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta by withholding affection from their men. That series of conflicts, which ground on for more than 20 years, is said to have marked the end of the Golden Age of Greece. After the war ended, Athens never regained its pre-war prosperity.

We can't wait another 10 years to resolve this debacle. Quick!! Could someone please forward this post to Michelle Obama and Laura Bush? It's going to take a bi-partisan effort....

Alma Robinson, Executive Director

California Lawyers for the Arts

Queen Mothers Administer Justice in Ghana, Preserve Culture in the Diaspora (Ghana Report, Part II)

Alma Robinson — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 22:50:07 GMT

The world is a small place indeed! Our mediation delegation from Sacramento, visiting Ghana for the Third International Africa Peace and Conflict Resolution Conference in July, had an opportunity to visit with six Queen Mothers in Kumasi and learn how they administer justice in their Districts. As a Brooklyn native, I was astonished when the youngest Queen Mother looked at me and exclaimed, "I live in Brooklyn!" She spends half of each year in New York, taking care of orphaned Ghanaian youth who are growing up in the US. She said that her mission is providing a place where they can learn about their culture and have a sense of community.

Kumasi is in the gold-rich Asante region. The Asante people are matrilineal, with descent and inheritance through the mother's side. They are ruled spiritually and politically by a paramount King and paramount Queen. The Queen has the power to appoint the King, who is ceremonially enthroned on a Golden Stool. If the Queen, who is usually not married to the King, should be dissatisfied with the King, she has the power to destool him.

Each District of Asante has a Queen Mother, who is not the "mother" of the King or Queen, but is a blood relative of the Queen. Queen Mothers are selected because they exhibit qualities that are required to make fair and sound decisions that will help to keep peace in the community.

With the assistance of a cultural translator called a Linguist, we engaged in a lively dialogue about the Queen Mothers' work at a community room located near the King's Palace. We listened raptly as each one described how she administers justice in her district. They hold court in their own communities on a regular schedule, varying from two days a week to once every six weeks. The cases they hear involve conflicts with neighbors, parent/child disputes, landlord/tenant issues, contract disputes and curses, which they said are the most prevalent type.

People believe in the power of putting a curse on someone who they believe has done them harm. The Queen Mother can order that a curse be removed--a task not entered into lightly. Following an extensive investigation into the background of the situation, each party to the conflict is closely questioned, as are family members and neighbors. The evidence is examined at length until the Queen Mother is convinced she understands the root of the problem. She then offers a solution designed to keep peace in the community--a win-win resolution.

If parties are not satisfied with the Queen Mother's ruling, particularly in civil matters, they have recourse to the legal court system. The Queen Mothers say this does not happen very often, because they work to make a most fair judgment. The Asante traditional system of alternative dispute resolution has been replicated in many other regions of Ghana.

Ellen Taylor, Associate Director

California Lawyers for the Arts

Greetings from our Alternative Dispute Resolution Team in Accra (Ghana Report, Part I)

Alma Robinson — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 22:10:05 GMT

With the sponsorship of the Center for African Peace and Conflict Resolution at California State-Sacramento and California Lawyers for the Arts, our group of seven mediators is now in Accra, Ghana, visiting local mediation centers, speaking with mediators and judges, and attending the Third International Africa Peace and Conflict Resolution Conference.

A highlight of our visit was the opportunity to observe a mediation administered by theAshaiman ADR Centre in Accra. The mediation was held in a small cinder block room located in a schoolyard--imagine! Three mediators, two men and a woman, described the history of their mediation center and their processes. After a series of questions, I realized that it all sounded very familiar.

Shortly afterwards, a couple entered the room and was seated in the first row facing the stage. The two male mediators then left, explaining that since the female mediator was fluent in Ewe, she would conduct the mediation and translate into English for us from time to time. Amazingly, very little translation was needed. The body language and emotional speech told us the story. The couple, who had a 12-year traditional marriage, had separated because the woman wanted a proper legal marriage, after two children together. The man had kept promising but not delivering. The mediator first listened to the woman, then the man, and asked them probing questions. The man said he was going to marry her--but first he had to discuss it with his parents. At the conclusion of the session, the mediator helped them set a date for a return session and said she was quite certain that they would return at the appointed date.

The door to the mediation room was open the entire time, with the noises of the schoolyard, traffic and birds filtering in. Afterwards, the mediator debriefed with us. As we exited the room into the schoolyard, the media was there waiting for us. We were on TV that night and in the newspaper the next day.

Then we were off to Court--quite a change of scene. The old British whitewashed multistorey buildings were set in a beautiul park. We were invited to witness two settlement conferences on commercial matters. Each one dealt with narrowing the issues of the dispute and setting a new date. The female judge invited us into her Chambers for a Q & A with two women judges and a female court administrator.

We have toured Kumasi and had an opportunity to speak with the Queen Mothers, who hold traditional courts for dispute resolution. Now we are in the midst of the three-day conference, which is considering “ADR and Peace Studies in Africa – fifteen years later; Lesson and Future Directions.” Earlier meetings were held in 2008 in Addis Ababa and in 1998 in Accra.

For now, Akwaaba

Ellen Taylor, Associate Director

California Lawyers for the Arts

Pretend You're Happy When You're Blue or What's the Matter with Kansas? (Again)

Alma Robinson — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 18:08:36 GMT

Even if you're not a sports fan, you'll be intrigued to learn that the Swedish soccer star who now coaches the US Women's World Cup team often starts her speeches with a song. Pia Sundhage began her first team meeting by pulling out her guitar and singing the Bob Dylan classic, "The Times They Are A-Changin'." "She was everything we needed," said goalie Hope Solo, "Our team was broken, we were down and out, there were a lot of fires to be put out...”

There are fascinating studies about the science of music. Author Daniel Levitin, who has built a career studying the effects of music on the brain, says that our brains co-evolved with music as a means of communicating with each other. Music modulates our neurochemistry and affects our moods, a process he calls "emotional regulation." Music can trigger the release of dopamine, the "feel good" hormone, or activate the amygdala, the brain’s fight or flight center, causing a release of adrenaline.

Like the World Cup team prior to Pia's arrival, our colleagues in the arts are also feeling broken. "This is the most difficult time to be an arts manager in my 26 years in the profession," says Michael Kaiser, the President of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

We are so tired of fighting fires. The demise of the Kansas Arts Commission, which saw its budget zeroed out by the Governor, and pending reductions in funding for the National Endowment for the Arts that are more severe than proposed cuts to sister cultural agencies, indicate that we should be on guard against an alarming trend of privatization of the arts.

Public support provides resources for diversity, access and equity, says Jonathan Katz, Executive Director of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA). In a brief phone call this week, he expressed disappointment with President Obama's proposed budget reduction for the NEA for 2011-12, from $155 to $146 million.

The NEA is now in the crosshairs of the Tea Party wing of the Republican Party. An amendment by Rep. Tim Huelskamp, a former member of the Kansas State Senate, to eliminate the agency was defeated by a vote of 126-284 in the House of Representatives. However, Congress is now considering further reductions. Americans for the Arts and NASAA, as well as California Arts Advocates, provide current news and tools for communicating with legislators.

As we weather the further marginalization of the arts, maybe we need to apply some of our best medicine to ourselves. I'm thinking about starting a round at the next meeting of our state-wide California Lawyers for the Arts team: "Row, Row, Row Your Boat, Gently Down the Stream/Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Life is But a Dream...."

Or maybe I'll croon my favorite from the great Nat King Cole: "Pretend you're happy when you're blue/It isn't very hard to do...."

What would you sing?

Alma Robinson, Executive Director

California Lawyers for the Arts

A Warm Welcome to Incoming California Arts Council Director Craig Watson

Alma Robinson — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 20:41:00 GMT

When I learned that Craig Watson worked with Christo's team on the Running Fence soon after graduating from Occidental College with a fine arts degree, I became an instant fan. In 1976, Christo and Jeanne-Claude, quintessential international public artists, mounted a 24.5-mile "fence" composed of heavy cloth panels that snaked across the pastures of Sonoma County straight into the Pacific Ocean.

Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Running Fence

In addition to his outsized visual poetry, Christo is also known for his tenacity in convincing government agencies and private landowners that the final result -- the art -- is good for their communities. After helping with the installation, Craig served as a tour guide for the Running Fence. Drawn to the site, which was mounted only two weeks, I, too, got to know the bucolic landscape of Sonoma as it was transformed by Christo's magical weaving. Later, when the steel posts and billowing nylon sheets were removed, Craig was part of the crew that walked through the rolling hills, reseeding trampled grasses.

After that assignment, his arts administration career was jumpstarted with a CETA (Comprehensive Employment and Training Act) funded job at the Arts Council of Sonoma County. Making good use of his training as a carpenter's assistant, he was in charge of converting a vacant school to an arts center (think: auditorium to theatre; classrooms to art studios).

If Christo is in Craig Watson's administrative DNA, that's a good sign for the arts sector as he takes on the challenge of directing the California Arts Council. Craig will be the first director appointed by the Council since it was started in 1975 by Governor Jerry Brown. Previous directors were selected by the Governor. For more information about Craig's appointment, read the CAC press release.

A Los Angeles native, Craig has served as Executive Director of the Arts Council for Long Beach (also known as Public Corporation for the Arts) for the past 2+ years. His diverse resume also includes an NEA fellowship in the office of state programs, where he created a resource guide to rural arts programs around the country, and an appointment as Co-Director of Santa Barbara Arts Services, which provided technical assistance for artists and arts organizations through the county Office of Education. During his 25-year telecommunications career with several companies, he gained management as well as production and lobbying experience while volunteering as the founding board chair of the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena.

We'll need all those skills in Sacramento, as he leads the charge to restore meaningful funding for the arts through public and private support. Referring to the CAC's "Million Plates" campaign, he said, "the Council and staff expect...to raise $40 million for the arts and arts education in California."

Let's get behind him as he reseeds the trampled shoots and withered grasses of our degraded arts infrastructure. He's going to need the vision, persistence and entrepreneurial savvy of Christo, as well as the support of a large crew of believers and advocates. For all of our sakes, we wish him well.

Alma Robinson, Executive Director

California Lawyers for the Arts

&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;iframe id="f3352a9218" name="fe7fae3b4" scrolling="no" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; height: 80px; width: 450px;" title="Like this content on Facebook." class="fb_ltr" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?channel_url=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fconnect%2Fxd_proxy.php%3Fversion%3D3%23cb%3Df2d7d72598%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.calawyersforthearts.org%252Ff1e542982%26relation%3Dparent.parent%26transport%3Dpostmessage&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.calawyersforthearts.org%2Fcalifornia_arts_blog%3Fmode%3DPostEdit%26bmi%3D655074&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;layout=standard&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;locale=en_US&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;node_type=link&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;sdk=joey&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;show_faces=true&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;width=450"&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;font face="Arial" size="2"&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;iframe id="f137f19634" name="f376da8618" scrolling="no" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; height: 80px; width: 450px;" title="Like this content on Facebook." class="fb_ltr" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?channel_url=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fconnect%2Fxd_proxy.php%3Fversion%3D3%23cb%3Dfec80ad9%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.calawyersforthearts.org%252Ff34fc58c3c%26relation%3Dparent.parent%26transport%3Dpostmessage&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.calawyersforthearts.org%2Fcalifornia_arts_blog%3Fmode%3DPostEdit%26bmi%3D655074&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;layout=standard&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;locale=en_US&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;node_type=link&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;sdk=joey&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;show_faces=true&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;width=450"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/font&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;iframe id="fb0902efc" name="f3257eae5c" scrolling="no" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; height: 80px; width: 450px;" title="Like this content on Facebook." class="fb_ltr" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?channel_url=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fconnect%2Fxd_proxy.php%3Fversion%3D3%23cb%3Df3104f8aec%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.calawyersforthearts.org%252Ff1e542982%26relation%3Dparent.parent%26transport%3Dpostmessage&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.calawyersforthearts.org%2Fcalifornia_arts_blog%3Fmode%3DPostEdit%26bmi%3D655074&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;layout=standard&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;locale=en_US&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;node_type=link&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;sdk=joey&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;show_faces=true&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;width=450"&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;font face="Arial" size="2"&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;iframe id="f622a2024" name="fc270c2d8" scrolling="no" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; height: 80px; width: 450px;" title="Like this content on Facebook." class="fb_ltr" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?channel_url=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fconnect%2Fxd_proxy.php%3Fversion%3D3%23cb%3Df38bb2257c%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.calawyersforthearts.org%252Ff34fc58c3c%26relation%3Dparent.parent%26transport%3Dpostmessage&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.calawyersforthearts.org%2Fcalifornia_arts_blog%3Fmode%3DPostEdit%26bmi%3D655074&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;layout=standard&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;locale=en_US&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;node_type=link&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;sdk=joey&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;show_faces=true&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;width=450"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/font&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;iframe id="f5e3dca18" name="fee8b4938" scrolling="no" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; height: 80px; width: 450px;" title="Like this content on Facebook." class="fb_ltr" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?channel_url=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fconnect%2Fxd_proxy.php%3Fversion%3D3%23cb%3Dff0f7c8d%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.calawyersforthearts.org%252Ff1e542982%26relation%3Dparent.parent%26transport%3Dpostmessage&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.calawyersforthearts.org%2Fcalifornia_arts_blog%3Fmode%3DPostEdit%26bmi%3D655074&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;layout=standard&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;locale=en_US&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;node_type=link&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;sdk=joey&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;show_faces=true&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;width=450"&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;font face="Arial" size="2"&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;font face="Arial" size="2"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;font face="Arial" size="2"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;font face="Arial" size="2"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;font face="Arial" size="2"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;font face="Arial" size="2"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;font face="Arial" size="2"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;iframe id="f1ebe04b9c" name="f4a75728" scrolling="no" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; height: 80px; width: 450px;" title="Like this content on Facebook." class="fb_ltr" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?channel_url=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fconnect%2Fxd_proxy.php%3Fversion%3D3%23cb%3Dff771e928%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.calawyersforthearts.org%252Ff3dd1bad8%26relation%3Dparent.parent%26transport%3Dpostmessage&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.calawyersforthearts.org%2Fcalifornia_arts_blog%3Fmode%3DPostEdit%26bmi%3D655074&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;layout=standard&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;locale=en_US&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;node_type=link&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;sdk=joey&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;show_faces=true&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;width=450"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/font&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;iframe id="f3df8b042" name="f49ba51bc" scrolling="no" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; height: 80px; width: 450px;" title="Like this content on Facebook." class="fb_ltr" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?channel_url=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fconnect%2Fxd_proxy.php%3Fversion%3D3%23cb%3Df1f59b293%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.calawyersforthearts.org%252Ff2713e324%26relation%3Dparent.parent%26transport%3Dpostmessage&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.calawyersforthearts.org%2Fcalifornia_arts_blog%3Fmode%3DPostEdit%26bmi%3D655074&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;layout=standard&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;locale=en_US&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;node_type=link&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;sdk=joey&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;show_faces=true&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;width=450"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/font&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/font&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/font&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/font&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;iframe id="f3396eafb4" name="f1569c1cf" scrolling="no" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; height: 80px; width: 450px;" title="Like this content on Facebook." class="fb_ltr" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?channel_url=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fconnect%2Fxd_proxy.php%3Fversion%3D3%23cb%3Df39c2a35c%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.calawyersforthearts.org%252Ff26db84f9%26relation%3Dparent.parent%26transport%3Dpostmessage&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.calawyersforthearts.org%2Fcalifornia_arts_blog%3Fmode%3DPostEdit%26bmi%3D655074&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;layout=standard&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;locale=en_US&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;node_type=link&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;sdk=joey&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;show_faces=true&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;width=450"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/font&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;iframe id="f2443318b" name="f174a164a4" scrolling="no" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; height: 80px; width: 450px;" title="Like this content on Facebook." class="fb_ltr" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?channel_url=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fconnect%2Fxd_proxy.php%3Fversion%3D3%23cb%3Dfdd7ccfe4%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.calawyersforthearts.org%252Ff34fc58c3c%26relation%3Dparent.parent%26transport%3Dpostmessage&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.calawyersforthearts.org%2Fcalifornia_arts_blog%3Fmode%3DPostEdit%26bmi%3D655074&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;layout=standard&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;locale=en_US&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;node_type=link&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;sdk=joey&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;show_faces=true&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;width=450"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/font&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;iframe id="f2e88d4b8c" name="f18c2224f4" scrolling="no" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; height: 80px; width: 450px;" title="Like this content on Facebook." class="fb_ltr" src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?channel_url=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fconnect%2Fxd_proxy.php%3Fversion%3D3%23cb%3Df282fe7a7c%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.calawyersforthearts.org%252Ff1e542982%26relation%3Dparent.parent%26transport%3Dpostmessage&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.calawyersforthearts.org%2Fcalifornia_arts_blog%3Fmode%3DPostEdit%26bmi%3D655074&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;layout=standard&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;locale=en_US&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;node_type=link&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;sdk=joey&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;show_faces=true&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;width=450"&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

U.S. Supreme Court Strikes Down CA Video Games Controls for Minors

Alma Robinson — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 04:43:13 GMT

State Sen. Leland Yee of San Francisco, a psychologist and former member of the San Francisco Board of Education, has led efforts to enact legislation that would restrict sales of violent video games to minors under age 18. AB 1179, which was passed by the state legislature in 2005, was successfully challenged in the courts by the games industry, which favors voluntary standards that refuse sales of violent games to unaccompanied minors. In Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that the California law was inconsistent with First Amendment principles and previous decisions.

Whether the state or parents alone can provide the kind of supervision needed by vulnerable youth is questionable.

Our passion for freedom of expression is challenged when it comes to what kinds of cultural activities we want our own kids to be engaged in. Certainly, most thinking parents would not want their own youth to be immersed in erotic and violent imagery that may harm their ability to relate to others in healthy ways. And every parent knows that one of the biggest challenges they have, once kids reach adolescence, is keeping them involved in positive activities. Left unattended, it's easy enough for them to get access to questionable material, whether through television, printed media, electronic games or internet browsing.

We also know that arts activities provide "pro-social" outlets for socialization, creativity and recreation. Having arts programs in the menu of after-school activities provides an essential safety net for parents and for communities, reducing delinquency and providing opportunities to learn many important life skills that can result in meaningful career paths and/or life-long avocations.

At California Lawyers for the Arts, we advocate that arts programs should be an essential component of youth development services and after school programs, as well as an essential part of a complete K-12 education. We hope you will join us in this quest to restore meaningful funding for arts in education, as well as in community programs. Please let your elected representatives at every level of government know that we need them to restore the funds for these needed services. It's going to take more than one village to raise healthy kids.

Alma Robinson, Executive Director

California Lawyers for the Arts

California Arts-in-Corrections profiled in the New York Times

Alma Robinson — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 15:58:32 GMT

Adam Nagourney's recent New York Times article (6/30/11) on the demise of arts-in-corrections programs in California provides a lively sketch of Tim Robbins' work at the California Rehabilitation Center.

You can't argue against the benefits of these programs: artists help inmates build their self-esteem, offering a channel for emotional release and reducing disciplinary incidents because people learn how to work together and how to get along. They are also motivated to stay out of trouble. Nagourney cited many benefits of arts-in-corrections programs but stated that there is "no conclusive evidence" that they reduce recidivism.

In fact, California Department of Corrections research on outcomes for parolees released between 1980 and 1987, when these programs were flourishing, concluded that "Arts-in-Corrections participants had a significantly higher percentage of favorable outcomes than the CDC total population studied for the same time period." Two years after release, arts in corrections parolees had a 69.2% favorable status, meaning they had not returned to state prison, compared to 42% for others.

We are therefore advocating for the restoration of arts-in-corrections as a cost-saving and humane measure. Arts programs reduce the cost of disciplinary incidents, help inmates restore their dignity, prepare them for life outside, and reduce recidivism.

Yes, you could use these same arguments for arts in education, adding: problem solving skills, motivation to stay in school, brain development that fosters other kinds of learning, and self-management skills, such as the ability to focus, to target goals and to realize internal satisfaction.

As we watch California's social networks fall apart, we have a big job ahead to make sure that the resources that support creativity, discipline and teamwork--as essential qualities needed by all--aren't lost in the budget shuffles.

Someone should do the math: Fewer art and music programs in schools correlate with higher drop out rates. Higher drop out rates correlate with higher illiteracy. Higher illiteracy correlates with higher incarceration rates, and, as a result, the social and economic burdens to society have mushroomed to the breaking point.

This spring, in coordination with colleagues at the William James Association and California Arts Advocates and with the support of the Wallace A. Gerbode Foundation, we mounted a major effort to restore arts in corrections as part of the Governor's Corrections budget. We got sympathetic support from several key legislators but a modest $1 million allocation to restore arts facilitators in the state prisons was eliminated during the final budget conference for the Corrections Department. The big issue for Sacramento this year is prison realignment: the State is under federal court orders to reduce the overcrowding in the prison system and Gov. Brown has chosen "realignment" as a key strategy to achieve this goal--thousands of non-violent inmates will be returned or retained in their home counties for incarceration in the county jails.

Now we are encouraged by the interest of local arts agencies across California in approaching their elected County Sheriffs about including arts in the menu of rehabilitation services they will provide for this new influx of inmates. If you are interested in playing a role in such work, either as an advocate or a provider, please get in touch with your local arts agencies and let them know.

The California Arts Council maintains a list of local arts agencies at

http://www.cac.ca.gov/programs/slpp_directory.php

If you have further thoughts, feel free to join the conversation here. Have a happy and safe Fourth of July and let's stay INDEPENDENT!

Alma Robinson, Executive Director

California Lawyers for the Arts