California Lawyers for the Arts

The mission of California Lawyers for the Arts is to establish a bridge between the arts and the legal communities so that: artists and art groups may gain greater competence in handling legal and business aspects of their creative activities; the legal profession may become more aware of and involved in issues affecting artists and the arts community and, the law may become more responsive to the needs and interests of the arts community.

California Lawyers for the Arts concluded its Artistic License Awards with a stunning event in Sacramento on May 16. After receiving his award recognizing his support of the arts and mediation, Sen. Darrell Steinberg, President Pro- Tem of the California Senate, urged the audience of C.L.A. members and friends to continue advocacy efforts. "These are tough times," he said, "a lot of people are hurting. We are struggling to maintain that which is so important to the quality of life...don't give up! There are better days ahead. We have to fight to make sure that we don't lose all that is great for our community. We have to make sure that we fight for the arts."

Additional items including travel opportunities, professional photography services, collectable pottery and more, are for sale on our auction page at fixed prices.
Steinberg and Johnson

Senator Darrell Steinberg with Muriel Johnson, Director of the California Arts Council
Photo by Toye Moses, © 2009

Senator Darrell Steinberg and Moderator Kitty O'Neill, KFTV News anchor

C.L.A.'s Ellen Taylor and C.L.A. panel attorney and mediator Stephen Davis.

Our second annual Southern CA Artistic License Awards event was held April 26 at the William Turner Gallery in Santa Monica.
Photos below by Akintoye.com © 2009

LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas (2nd from left) presents a certificate to California Lawyers for the Arts board members (from left to right) William Turner, owner of the William Turner Gallery; Consuelo Woodhead, an assistant U.S. Attorney in the Los Angeles office of the U.S. District Attorney; C.L.A. Co-President Gerry Bryant and Grace Bergen, partner in the law firm of Greenberg Traurig.

Al Nodal, President of the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Commission, received the C.L.A. Artistic License Award from Michael Alexander, past chair of the California Arts Council and Melissa Feruzzi Shriver, current Chair of the California Arts Council.

We also honored,

In Sacramento:
Darrell Steinberg, California Senate President Pro Tem,
Wayne Thiebaud, Internationally acclaimed artist,
Kim Curry-Evans, Executive Director and Curator of 40 Acres
Art Gallery,
Stephen L. Davis, Partner of the Davis & Leonard LLP Law Firm,
Charles (Chuck) Miller, Art consultant, co-founder of 2d Saturday Art Walk (In Memorium.)

In Santa Monica:
Al Nodal, president of the LA City Cultural Affairs Commission
Abe Carnow, CPA
Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe
Danny Glover & Ben Guillory, founders of the Robey Theatre
Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe

New Posting: Summary and Full Report of our Arts and Environmental Initiative Dialogue 1.

As a member of C.L.A., you are supporting and participating in a dynamic service organization, providing vital links to other community sectors and current issues affecting the arts as well as quality legal services and educational programs.

C.L.A. By the Numbers

In 2008:

1,267 individual artists and arts organizations received legal assistance from our attorney panel.
1,261 persons attended C.L.A. educational events, including mediation trainings.
628 artists, art businesses and arts organizations participated in Arts Arbitration and Mediation Services (A.A.M.S.)
125 artists used the ArtHouse hotline, and 28 artists and arts organizations occupied space managed by ArtHouse.
35 attended C.L.A.'s 3rd Symposium on California Arts and Healthy Communities in San Jose.
70 participated in our first Arts and Environmental Dialogue in San Francisco.
64 deserving youth were placed in internships with arts organizations and apprenticeships with artists in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The Arts Policy Committee of the C.L.A. Board of Directors asked Congress to stop further action on the proposed Orphan Works Amendment to the US Copyright Act, pending further review and input from all stakeholders. For more information, see our Advocacy page.

Our educational programs section has been updated with new workshops . Reserve your place now!

Webmaster: Josie Porter