Subject: What happened at the hearing on the Bill to Protect Artists?
Rob Bettmann DC Advocates for the Arts
On Wednesday September 22nd, Ward 4 Council-member Muriel Bowser convened a hearing of the Public Services and Community Affairs committee to consider Bill B18-451, the Bill to Protect Artists. Many of you signed our petition (back in march, april, may and june) which resulted in the scheduling of this hearing.
The hearing went very well. Positive support for the bill was provided by Council-member Bowser in her statement at the hearing, and in testimony from:
The DC Bar Arts, Entertainment, Media and Sports Law Section; The Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia; The Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts;
Marvin Bowser;
Janet Fries;
Lavinia Wohlfarth;
George Koch;
and myself on behalf of our membership.
Following the hearing Council-member Michael Brown put out a statement on the bill, which we will post on the website. As available, we will also post the testimony and statements of hearing participants.
The bill addresses a loophole in existing DC law pertaining to consignment, which is a constant and necessary part of the visual arts economy. This bill will ensure that after artists and collectors have invested in work, that work is protected from inappropriate seizure.
Council-member Bowser's committee must now report out from the hearing, including any recommendations for amendment, following which the bill may be scheduled for consideration by the council of the whole.
This isn't a particularly sexy issue. It's a lot like having fire insurance. Nobody other than our organization is worried if visual artists don't have this protection. We need your continued support and attention as we work to get this out of committee, and into law. We'll be in touch about ways you can support passage of this legislation, and you can see more on our website -- http://www.facebook.com/l/c9373EUbOkSsX3lH2oeThPg_QyA;www.dcadvocatesforthearts.org. Thanks!
The hearing went very well. Positive support for the bill was provided by Council-member Bowser in her statement at the hearing, and in testimony from:
The DC Bar Arts, Entertainment, Media and Sports Law Section; The Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia; The Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts;
Marvin Bowser;
Janet Fries;
Lavinia Wohlfarth;
George Koch;
and myself on behalf of our membership.
Following the hearing Council-member Michael Brown put out a statement on the bill, which we will post on the website. As available, we will also post the testimony and statements of hearing participants.
The bill addresses a loophole in existing DC law pertaining to consignment, which is a constant and necessary part of the visual arts economy. This bill will ensure that after artists and collectors have invested in work, that work is protected from inappropriate seizure.
Council-member Bowser's committee must now report out from the hearing, including any recommendations for amendment, following which the bill may be scheduled for consideration by the council of the whole.
This isn't a particularly sexy issue. It's a lot like having fire insurance. Nobody other than our organization is worried if visual artists don't have this protection. We need your continued support and attention as we work to get this out of committee, and into law. We'll be in touch about ways you can support passage of this legislation, and you can see more on our website -- http://www.facebook.com/l/c9373EUbOkSsX3lH2oeThPg_QyA;www.dcadvocatesforthearts.org. Thanks!
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