WALA!

Give to the Max TODAY

2011-11-09T08:47:00.003-05:00

It is officially Give to the Max Day in DC. Non-profits throughout the DC area are participating in a one-day event to demonstrate that DC cares in partnership with Razoo, a prominent online service that helps organizations raise funds with web-based tools.

We are encouraging all of our friends to show support for WALA and its work to support the creative community in DC. Please make a contribution today - become a member or simply donate.

In 2011 alone:

We helped hundreds of creative artists and arts organizations through our legal referrals.

We have offered several monthly educational programs on legal issues important to the arts.

We launched a creative entrepreneurship program in DC for young artists.

We participated in the city's DC Creative Action Plan to build stronger communities.

We have organized events in neighborhoods with emerging arts communities.

Please support us by giving today!

WALA WEDNESDAY COFFEE TALK BEFORE YOUR DAY @ SILVERDOCS

2011-06-20T08:11:00.002-04:00

WALA WEDNESDAY COFFEE TALK: Join us before hitting Silverdocs
Join DocsInProgress and WALA on June 22 at 8:30am before hitting Silverdocs for a FREE breakfast and lively discussion on the latest on policy and legal updates on net neutrality and broadband usage, an issue that will likely profoundly impact the film and television industry within the next five years. Featured speaker and discussion leader is WALA Board Member, Mark Brennan of Hogan Lovells. Location: DocsInProgress Documentary House 8700 First Avenue in Silver Spring, a few blocks walk from the AFI Theater.

About Docs In Progress
By developing, encouraging, and celebrating new and diverse voices in documentary film, Docs In Progress creates and fosters a supportive community for documentary filmmakers and connects them to the broader public. It does this by offering an array of educational, professional development, and screening programs aimed at aspiring and experienced documentary filmmakers and the broader community.Docs In Progress is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Silver Spring, Maryland.

“Why Do I Need A Lawyer?” Vol. I: Common Legal Issues for Writers & Visual Artists

2011-06-15T15:49:00.003-04:00

Think U don't need a lawyer? Think again. Get tix to this fun highly informative WALA & Anacostia Community Museum event: http://ow.ly/5iFUg.

“Why Do I Need A Lawyer?” Vol. I: Common Legal Issues for Writers & Visual Artists

This insightful moderated panel discussion and Q&A session includes a brief presentation on common issues and pitfalls attorneys practicing entertainment and intellectual property law regularly see with their creative clients. Targeting writers and visual artists, this event can help you protect both you and your work. Bring your pads, pens, and plenty of questions for our legal experts. Co-Sponsored by Smithsonian Anacostia Museum.

Moderated by: Rachelle Browne, JD
Panelists include: Larry Frazier, JD; John Mason, JD; Ray Thomas, JD; and Jennifer Williston, JD

Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum
1901 Fort Place, SE
June 21st
7pm-9pm

*this event is made possible in part through funding by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

Support WALA On Arts Advocacy Day – April 27, 2011

2011-04-25T23:36:00.005-04:00

By Robert Bettmann

Arts support in the District is disappearing. Local artists and arts organizations in the District are like the character in the movie Hustle and Flow who says, “I’m sitting here trying to squeeze a dollar out of a dime and I ain’t got a cent.”

Funding for DC’s arts agency, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) has been gutted in the last three years, from over $14 million in FY 09 to under $5 million in FY 11, and the proposed FY 12 budget contains further cuts. The current proposal is $3.92 million for the DCCAH to support all of the arts organizations, artists, and arts education providers in the District. As a recent report from the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies argues, “The arts comprise a very small portion of state spending, less than one tenth of one percent. Reducing expenditures that modest won’t appreciably affect state budgets, but will damage the cultural sector’s ability to provide jobs, goods and services to communities.” DC arts support is now just $3.92 million within a total District FY 12 budget of $10.8 billion. Increased funding for the DCCAH is necessary to maintain access to the arts for all DC residents.

The DC Chamber of Commerce 2011 Policy Agenda states, “The past year has proven to be a test for many of our members as they work to survive the economic downturn. And over the past year, the Chamber has been able to stave off legislative and regulatory initiatives that could harm our members’ ability to operate successfully and help grow our economy, create more jobs, and improve the District’s competitiveness regionally.” And that is where the DC Advocates for the Arts find ourselves as we prepare for Arts Advocacy Day – April 27, 2011. We are fighting to ensure that the District will restore a basic level of support so that artists and arts businesses in every ward have a fighting chance.

To support WALA and the artists and organizations it serves, on Wednesday April 27, 2011 – Arts Advocacy Day – please take a minute to tell policy-makers to support the arts in the District’s FY 12 budget. Contact Mayor Gray via email at eom@dc.gov or by phone at (202) 727-6300, and Council Chair Kwame Brown at kbrown@dccouncil.us or (202) 724-8032. Please ask the Mayor and the Council Chair to support the arts in the DC budget by restoring funding for the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities to the FY 2010 level of $5.16 million.

After you’ve done that, please consider becoming a member of the DC Advocates for the Arts (please link our org name to http://www.dcadvocatesforthearts.org), and donating to support WALA’s ongoing service to the District (link to wala donate page).

Robert Bettmann is the Board Chair of the DC Advocates for the Arts. Incorporated as a non-profit in 2010, the DC Advocates for the Arts provide informational and administrative resources facilitating advocacy and public policy solutions for the District of Columbia. He is also Artistic Director of the dance company Bettmann Dances (http://quis.bettmanndances.com), managing editor for Bourgeon, a DC arts magazine written by artists (http://www.bourgeononline.com), and a consultant. You can contact him at rob@dayeight.org.

WALA BRINGS IN MAY WITH A SPRING BASH!

2011-04-14T02:16:00.018-04:00

For participation in the ultimate May celebration, we're giving you free WALA membership with every ticket! Free delectable Spring cocktails courtesy of Hennessy Privilege to refresh the palette while the rock, funk, 'n' soul melodies of GODISHEUS and Marcell & The Truth kiss your ears. Did we mention a mini-fashion showcase by Jody Davis Designs to dazzle your eyes? Can you stand to hear more? We'll be giving out a series of community service awards to the firms and lawyers who generously make all WALA does for the DMV Creative Community possible, culminating in our highest award of distinction going to Professor Susan R. Jones, J.D. of George Washington University Law School Small Business Legal Clinic. And, locally renowned art legend "Art Man" Bryant K. Adams will receive our very first Janos Enyedi WALA Artist of the Year Award. Whew! All of that for just $75 a ticket, one that automatically includes a free $35 WALA membership. Membership gives you free access to all WALA educational sessions and pro bono legal services throughout the year. How can you beat that? By buying a ticket for a friend too! Spread the love. Spread the joy. "Celebrate Our Arts Patriots!" WALA style at the newly revitalized The Atlas on H Street NE, one of DC's hottest emerging arts districts, on May 5th from 6-9pm. Valet and plenty of safe parking nearby!. We'll be waiting for you. Click right here to get your tickets and support the arts now!

Does it Matter? What do you say?

2011-04-06T12:20:00.004-04:00

At the Kennedy Center last night, Kevin Spacey made a compelling case for the Arts to a packed theater of artists, non-profit administrators, educators and advocates. “Does it matter?” he asked.

Spacey artfully crafted his personal narrative about the role that arts education and community arts programs shaped his career and juxtaposed it with the perspectives of presidents, renowned artists and thinkers on the importance of arts and culture in society.

It DOES matter. Every day WALA volunteers work to ensure that arts programs and artists get the legal support needed to operate their businesses through lawyer referrals, legal clinics and educational programming. WALA helps our arts community to create the building blocks needed to offer arts education and affordable arts programs within the neighborhoods where people work and live. We have connected motivated artists with inspirational ideas and lawyers passionate about the arts for three decades. Our role in filling this need has had a major impact on the cultural landscape of our city and the metropolitan area.

On May 5, we will celebrate our Arts Patriots with a reception at the Atlas on H Street. We invite you to support our mission and enjoy the evening in a community transformed by the presence of creative entrepreneurs. As we countdown to our event, we invite you to link to us on Facebook and Twitter to learn about just a few of the great organizations that came to WALA and have made a difference.

If my words do not inspire you to action, I leave you with an account from Spacey’s speech last night:

In the midst of World War II, Winston Churchill’s ministers came to him and proposed cutting arts spending to cover the mounting costs to fight the war. Churchill’s response:

“Then what are we fighting for?”

I welcome your comments and your perspectives on whether or not YOU think it matters.

New "Link With A Lawyer" Opportunity @ WALA

2011-02-19T12:06:00.002-05:00

FROM THE LEGAL SERVICES DESK:

WALA is proud to announce that we now offer “Link with a Lawyer,” an opportunity for our members to speak with an attorney for free, for about an hour, over the phone, about their legal issues and questions. If you have a legal issue that is non-adversarial, can be resolved or answered in under an hour, and regards a copyright issue, a review of a brief contract, license agreement, or the like, please contact us at legalservices@thewala.org to discuss your request.

We are very pleased that in addition to the law firm of DLA Piper, the law firm of Patton Boggs now participates in the Link with a Lawyer program. We would like in particular to thank Thomas Zutic and Trinette Bolden of DLA Piper, and Lodie White of Patton Boggs, for their participation in this WALA program offering. We will make every effort to Link you to a Lawyer in about a week.

WALA is also seeking member submissions that describe member experiences with WALA programs, including legal referrals, educational programming, and clinics. Your feedback helps us to improve our services and we welcome both success stories and recommendations. Please email legalservices@thewala.org and describe the service you received, the attorney that you worked with, and your satisfaction level with WALA.

Finally, we are very pleased to announce that WALA members can attend two DC Independent Film Festival legal events on March 13^th, for free (if you pre-register on our website). One panel discussion will focus on production company formation, pre-, mid-, and post-production legal issues as well as distribution. The second panel discussion will focus on music in film issues such as sources of music, selection of music, licensing issues, the role of performing rights societies, and strategies for right acquisition. Please stay tuned to our Facebook page and blog for more details.

Maggie Gladson

WALA Legal Services Director

Arts Participation Amongst Football Players Spikes

2011-02-19T11:44:00.004-05:00

By Charles Phaneuf

In the week leading up to the Super Bowl, when most of the story lines about star players and genius coaches were exhausted, we started to hear about fascinating avocations. Running back Rashard Mendenhall was in the news for taking dance lessons, which he said made a big difference on the field. Star quarterback Aaron Rodgers is a regular at open mic nights, where he plays guitar and sings, and several of the Green Bay Packers take piano lessons together.

While it’s encouraging to hear about these examples of adults participating in the arts, it also highlights how we don’t hear these types of stories often enough. The 2008 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts by the NEA tells us that 10% of adult respondents had participated in creating art by performing or making work. The trend is positive, growing by 2% over the previous survey in 2002, but this group is disproportionately white, female and educated, which means that it roughly represents what we already know about arts audiences.

Why is this lack of diversity and participation not a larger part of the conversation about the health of the field? Rocco Landesman recently made a statement about the oversupply of live theatre, which seemed to initially espouse the idea that the arts audience is static. Isn’t there clearly a connection between people participating in the arts, as both children and adults, and arts audiences? When he issued a response to the ensuing controversy on the Arts Works blog, Mr. Landesman mentioned arts education first in his response to the question about how best to develop future audiences. But he talked about it only in terms of as getting exposure to the arts at a young age. This is a limited way of thinking about arts participation.

If football players—young men in their 20s and 30s—can find their way to piano lessons and become part of this crucial but growing 10% of adults that participate, there is no reason to look at arts audiences as a static or shrinking part of the population. Rather, increasing the arts participation rate could be the greatest challenge and opportunity that currently faces the field.

In my experience, there are benefits beyond simply “butts in seats.” I play saxophone every Monday night with the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra, and it’s one of the best parts of my week. Even when the workday is at its most challenging and frustrating, I know that I can enter this venerable institution, take my horn out of its case, see some friends and play great music for three hours. I only wish that more people participated in activities like this. We’d be a happier, healthier and more compassionate community.

Who will join Woody Allen the clarinetist, Grant Hill the art collector, and Bill Clinton the saxophonist as successful public figures that exemplify arts participation? Here’s hoping we hear more stories about the likes of Rodgers, Mendenhall and the Green Bay Packers in the coming year.

Charles Phaneuf

Managing Director

Joe’s Movement Emporium

Links

Mendenhall story: http://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/Pittsburgh-Magazine/August-2010/Rashard-Mendenhall-Thinks-He-Can-Dance/

Rodgers story: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2010/columns/story?id=6076694

Packers piano lessons: http://www.npr.org/2011/02/04/133474167/can-music-predict-the-super-bowl-winner

NEA study: http://www.nea.gov/research/2008-SPPA.pdf

Landesman: http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/28/landesman-comments-on-theater/

Arts Works blog post: http://www.arts.gov/artworks/?p=5402

Logs or Log Cabins? It depends on your vision.

2011-02-18T09:00:00.003-05:00

President’s Day and African-American History Month mark February as a time to celebrate our cultural heritage. While DC has always been a cultural city, over the past decade we have seen exponential growth in creative industries that not only commemorate our nation’s heritage, they lay the foundation for our future cultural development. For over 25 years, WALA has had a part in building DC’s reputation as a creative center. To build upon our legacy, WALA’s board and many volunteers have spent several months developing a strategic vision to encourage growth in the creative sector in a way that supports the economic development of our community.

While WALA staff and supporters have toiled on developing collaborative strategies to ensure a viable infrastructure for creative industries in our region, 2011 has born witness to some significant setbacks on the national front. This week alone we have witnessed Borders go into bankruptcy and political volleyball over funding for key cultural programs, especially the National Endowment for the Arts. Since economic analysts have announced that the recession is over and we are staring at a mound of public debt, it seems that policy makers have lost a cohesive vision of what is needed for consistent long-range economic growth.

Wait! - you say - why all the talk about economic policy? We still can't seem to get across to legislators that the arts is an integral part of the equation. For nearly five years we have grappled with ongoing struggles in the film, television, music and publishing industries to simultaneously address the impact of economic recession and to find viable business models in the midst of a technology revolution that has literally turned all media arts industries on their heads. The risk to our country is not only a decline of creative industries in which the United States has historically been an innovator and leader, but a depletion of our cultural identity and heritage.

We need a shared political vision about the importance of the arts to our society and our economy. There is needless debate about the value of arts in our communities, our schools and our economy. Perhaps instead of celebrating the holiday weekend with flowering oratory about log cabins, we should reflect about the log in our eyes.

WALA PREZ DAY EVENT POSTPONED!!!

2011-02-14T11:33:00.001-05:00

Dearest WALA Supporter,

I have some new information to share with you about the previously forthcoming Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts (WALA) President's Day Weekend event originally slated for February 17, 2011 at Gibson Guitar. The WALA Board has met and determined that we are postponing the event on Feb. 17th until a date to be determined in May. The event is postponed due to inclement weather projections for this forthcoming Thursday. A new date and venue will be determined in short order (Gibson Guitar, our host venue, unfortunately cannot host a Spring event due to previously scheduled bookings). Professor Susan Jones will still be honored at the May event and other award recipients may also soon be announced.

Because of the resulting short notice, I wanted to make sure we're aggressively getting the word out to you, our supporters and members, and personally apologize for any inconvenience this date change may cause you. Please do help us get the word out to your individual networks, those you may have personally invited or those you know who planned to attend next Thursday.

Thanks for your support of this fundraising event and our organization. We look forward to your attending the forthcoming Spring Affair! Other than the date and venue location, all the other event details announced are expected to remain the same or perhaps even be improved!

We'll get you all the new date the second it is confirmed. We appreciate your patience in the interim and look forward to seeing you in Spring! My contact information is below should you need to directly reach me. Thanks again!

Warmest regards,

L. Michael Gipson
Executive Director
Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts
www.thewala.org
(c) (216)-534-9017

Something To Tide You Over 'Til Feb 17th!

2011-01-17T21:37:00.003-05:00

Please Join

SBC IP Law Group

BL Young Law Firm

The Institute for Intellectual Property and Social Justice

at Howard University School of Law
for an

Intellectual Property Law Social

Friday, January 21, 2011

from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Howard University School of Law

2900 Van Ness Street, NW

Washington, DC 20008

RSVP:

djefferson@sbclawgroup.com

SPONSORS:

The Institute for Intellectual Property and Social Justice at Howard University Law

CIROC premium vodka

SBC IP LAW GROUP

BL YOUNG LAW FIRM

Just 30 Days 'Til We Party With A Purpose!!

2011-01-17T20:58:00.005-05:00

In just 30 days, we'll be bringing in the holiday weekend right! Buy an advance ticket and automatically become a WALA member! That's a $35 savings and a year of plenty legal beagle returns! Join WALA, support DC arts, and have an amazing night of music, fashion, and scrumptious cuisine. Wow, how hot is that?

For advance tickets w/ WALA membership just click here!

2011: A Creative Odyssey

2011-01-05T22:00:00.000-05:00

2011 – a glorious new year to embark on a mission! The holidays naturally invite us to contemplate “New Year’s resolutions.” And yes, I have a resolution too: I want to put DC’s cultural identity on the map.

As WALA’s president, I spend a great deal of time envisioning our organization's role in D.C.’s cultural landscape. This week, my contemplation happily coincided with a segment on the Kojo Nnamdi Show, The D.C. Area’s Unique (?) Cultural Identity. Amid familiar commentary that DC is a “government town” with a “small town” cultural landscape, Kojo’s guests also made approving nods to what our city has become. We have art, theater, music, film, fashion, and museums (and I am not only talking about the megalith complex we call “America’s Treasure Chest”). We even have food. So it would seem that despite the omnipotent presence of agencies, contractors and other going concerns that drive our nation’s government, we have evolved into a city with cultural distinction.

Still, as guests on Kojo’s show quickly noted, we are not New York. Regrettably, the comparison is unsurprising. Detractors of DC’s cultural scene commonly cast a shadow over our community’s accomplishments, either by drawing comparisons to other cities or by distinguishing DC’s (lack of) attributes (a “small transitory government town”) to justify why culture will never take root.

If our community is to distinguish itself for the cultural attributes that it has -- and not the ones it is lacking -- we must invest in our creative community. Cultural identity is built on community. Community develops a cultural identity through space - places where people come together to exchange ideas – and relationships formed by common experiences. How a community celebrates, how it mourns and simply how it goes about daily routines all define a common cultural identity. The narrators of that cultural identity are a community’s creatives: its artists, storytellers, musicians, designers curators and, yes, culinary masters. Our creatives shape and define our collective identity.

In the coming year, WALA will do its part to invest in our creative community and put DC’s cultural identity on the map. WALA will develop two white papers on legal issues in the creative economy. It will be stepping up efforts to educate and train economically challenged and emerging artists on legal aspects of creative entrepreneurship. It will build upon efforts to raise awareness of legal and regulatory challenges that hinder the development of a vibrant and sustainable creative economy. Finally, it will continue to serve the hundreds of artists and arts organizations in our community that seek legal advice. I invite you to roll up your sleeves and join us. Together, we can put to rest once and for all the question of whether a distinct cultural landscape exists in the District of Columbia, our nation’s (cultural) capital.

WALA Needs You, Art Techies!

2010-12-06T10:54:00.004-05:00

New WALA Web and Social Media Committee

Over the last two years, WALA has made a concerted effort to enter the 21st Century by developing communication platforms and utilizing the new technologies to keep you better informed about all things WALA. In the last year alone, we have developed this blog, refreshed our website, and increased our presence on several social media platforms, including Twitter and Facebook. In 2011, we want to take it even further by creating the first WALA Web and Social Media Committee. It is our hope that the committee will:

develop exciting new video content and utilize video sharing platforms that allows WALA to further highlight the amazing talents and provocative thinkers of our community;
advance our blog to grow into the most dynamic and useful art and law blog in the country (or at least our community!) by recruiting fresh new voices and mining the learned experience of more sage ones on matters pertaining to censorship, net neutrality, entertainment law, creative entrepreneurship, and other arts community concerns;
continue to make the necessary updates, alterations, and improvements on our website, www.thewala.org, and furthering our brand in the public consciousness; and,
further our brand awareness in the arts and legal communities and in the public consciousness to increase artists access to services and public support of our mission.

A new volunteer social media team will increase our capacity to better serve WALA's members, strengthen our ability to keep you better informed about WALA and the creative community it serves, and let the world know a little bit more about the phenomenal talents and innovative thinkers we have in the Greater Washington arts community. If you are interested in joining the WALA Web and Social Media Committee, please email director@thewala.org with the phrase "WALA Social Media Committee" in the subject line. Thank you in advance for your interest!

WALA Signs On With NACA Against NPG Censorship

2010-12-02T18:01:00.000-05:00

The National Coalition Against Censorship has circulated the following statement in response to the National Portrait Gallery's removal of a David Wojnarowicz video. It is jointly signed by the National Coalition Against Censorship, American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, AICA-USA, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Association of American Publishers, Catholics for Choice, Defending Dissent Foundation, District of Columbia Advocates for the Arts, Advocates for the Arts District of Columbia Arts Center, The First Amendment Project, Provisions Library: Resources for Arts and Social Change, Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts, Washington Project for the Arts, and The Woodhull Freedom Foundation

The National Portrait Gallery Betrays Constitutional Principles by Censoring Controversial Viewpoints:

A joint statement by the National Coalition Against Censorship, American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, AICA-USA,Americans United for Separation of Church and State,Association of American Publishers, Catholics for Choice, Defending Dissent Foundation, District of Columbia Advocates for the Arts, Advocates for the Arts District of Columbia Arts Center, The First Amendment Project, Provisions Library: Resources for Arts and Social Change, Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts, Washington Project for the Arts,and The Woodhull Freedom Foundation

The removal of David Wojnarowicz's 1987 video Fire in My Belly from an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in response to pressure from the Catholic League and Republican Members of Congress is a shameful assault on First Amendment principles, which preclude government officials from using their financial and political power to determine what viewpoints should and should not be allowed into a public museum.

The video was part of Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture, an exhibition exploring issues of sexuality and specifically gay sexuality. After a sensationalizing review of the show published on CNSNews.com (formerly the Conservative News Service, a news website owned by the Media Research Center) the Catholic League objected to the exhibition and specifically David Wojnarowicz' video, a work which is part death elegy about the artist's mentor and lover Peter Hujar and part angry tirade about the AIDS epidemic. The video uses, among many others, images of crucifixes.

The Catholic League called the video "hate speech." Soon Rep. John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), the presumptive incoming House speaker, and incoming Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), as well as some other Republican legislators, joined the League in demanding the cancellation of the show, as well as threatening future funding to the Smithsonian. Yielding to political pressure, the Gallery's director, Martin Sullivan, removed Wojnarowicz's video from the exhibition on November 30^th.

Anybody is entitled to criticize an art show but First Amendment principles bar government officials from suppressing controversial viewpoints andimposing the values held by one religious group on society at large. The National Portrait Gallery cannot and should not tailor its programming to promote the views of certain interest groups at the expense of others. Taxpayer funds go to maintain a vibrant and diverse cultural sphere that serves all Americans not just Republicans or Democrats, conservatives or liberals, Christians or Jews. We may differ on cultural or social issues and argue about these issues - in the press, in public spaces, in galleries and performance spaces, but government officials cannot use financial leverage as a threat to silence those with whom they disagree. In 1998, while upholding the so-called NEA decency clause, the US Supreme Court warned that serious First Amendment problems would be raised were the government "to leverage its power" to fund art "into a penalty on disfavored viewpoints."

The Catholic League may insist that religious symbols are its property and others (especially homosexuals) cannot use them, however, a national museum is barred by First Amendment principles, as well as by its mission to serve all Americans, from enforcing those views on the rest of us. As the U.S. Supreme Court stated in 1952, "the state has no legitimate interest in protecting any or all religions from views distasteful to them...It is not the business of government in our nation to suppress real or imagined attacks upon a particular religious doctrine."

The National Portrait Gallery's failure to stand up for its own curatorial selection and for the free speech rights of artists and museum visitors is likely to have a chilling effect on future programming. Once the institution has caved in to political pressure from religious groups and suppressed work deemed "sacrilegious" by those groups, it's inevitable, as the Supreme Court warned in 1952, that it will yield to "the most vocal and powerful orthodoxies" and "find it virtually impossible to avoid favoring one religion over another."

The Smithsonian, of which the National Portrait Gallery is part, is a public trust serving the interests of all Americans. It betrays its mission the moment it ejects a work whose viewpoint some dislike.

About the National Coalition Against Censorship

The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC), founded in 1974, is an alliance of 50 national non-profit organizations, including literary, artistic, religious, educational, professional, labor, and civil liberties groups. United by a conviction that freedom of thought, inquiry, and expression must be defended, we work to educate our own members and the public at large about the dangers of censorship and how to oppose them.

National Coalition Against Censorship
725 7th Ave, New York, NY 10001
www.ncac.org

NPG Caves Under Political Censorship: Artists' Rights at Stake

2010-12-02T10:05:00.000-05:00

NPG Caves Under Political Censorship: Artists' Rights at Stake

NPG's exhibit Hide/Seek, featuring portraiture reflecting differences in sexual identity, has risen to sensational levels. Earlier this week, NPG's director pulled David Wojnarowicz's video displaying an ant-covered crucifix under pressure from members of Congress and threats from religious-affiliated interest groups to challenge Smithsonian government funding.

The implications of NPG's decision on First Amendment rights to the freedom of expression are disturbing. The Smithsonian Institution is a symbolic national forum of artistic and cultural expression. While aspects of the current exhibit may be distasteful, disturbing, or even offensive to some, these images are being displayed in the context of reflection, commentary and exploration of a legitimate topic for public discourse. The works (and the exhibit itself) fall squarely within the definition of protected speech under the First Amendment.

WALA speaks out on matters affecting artists, and political censorship strikes at the core of artists' fundamental rights. We will be following this development closely. If anyone is interested in participating on a position paper, please contact Laura Possessky, WALA Board Chair, directly.

More information: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/30/AR2010113004647.html

WALA Fall 2010 Newsletter

2010-11-24T11:08:00.000-05:00

The Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts

Fall 2010 Newsletter

It’s the holiday season again and the Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts (WALA) is entering the yuletide season with a renewed energy and focus. You’ve got a new executive director in me, Mike Gipson, and several new interns and volunteers who’ve joined us in fulfilling our mission. I’m working with my team of amazing staff and volunteers to put together an exciting new calendar for 2011 with member attorneys and law firms, including two cycles of our wildly popular Creative Entrepreneurship workshop series.

We’re hosting our first major fundraising event for President’s Day Weekend on Thursday, February 17, 2011 to cap off our annual Autumn-to-Winter WALA Platinum fundraising campaign. The WALA Platinum campaign got kicked off with “Say YES to Pro Bono!” an intimate happy hour reception generously sponsored by Hunton & Williams. During the festivities, Hunton & Williams became among the first platinum law firm sponsors of the fundraising season. We invite other firms, organizations, and individual supporters to follow their example by donating to sustain WALA, a vital, thriving community resource for over 25 years.

Our campaign fundraising goal is $33,000, nearly 20% of which has already been met! With your committed support, we’ll get to 100% (or more!) by February 2011. Your dedication to our mutual cause will assist us in restoring some staff positions recently lost and come back stronger than ever in 2011. New infrastructure, more strategic community partnerships, and more innovative, inspiring educational sessions will be the foundation for even better support of the Greater Washington Metro’s creative community.

Toward those aims, we invite you to submit your workshop ideas and opportunities for WALA to better serve you in the New Year. We also invite all partner organizations to share information about your upcoming events and all member artists to submit examples of your work (i.e., photographs, writings, performance video clips, etc.) to the WALA Blog for us to consider for exhibition and sharing with fellow members and supporters through this collective space. We will use our blog and social media platforms as communal spaces to share the latest in legal thought and celebrate the awe-inspiring creative jewels our unsung local heroes produce every day.

Now more than ever it is imperative that we protect our precious institutional resources and develop fresh strategies for the sustainability of our creative community. Work with us to make 2011 a year of renewal, restoration, and revival. Let’s partner to help art do what it’s intended to do best: make us all better. Won’t you join us in that commitment?

To learn more about how you can help, just click here or make a donation here. We’ve also discovered enticing new ways to help support WALA while saving you money over this holiday shopping season. Just in time for Black Friday, shop with a purpose by becoming a WALA Champion through One Cause. Sign up with One Cause and make WALA your charity of choice, download the One Cause toolbar, and a percentage of every purchase from a partnering retailer is donated to WALA. Sit back and enjoy special discounts and offers as a One Cause member all year round while simultaneously supporting a mission you believe in.

Last, but certainly not least, we invite you to join us in commemorating WALA member organization Olu Yemisi & Co. 10^th Anniversary Celebration, an awesome afternoon of film, dance, and loads of fun. We feel co-sponsoring this free Afro-Latin dance extravaganza is a fitting cap for a truly amazing year, one that you helped make possible. Thank you!

Happy Holidays!

L. Michael Gipson

Executive Director

Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts

Did You Miss?

All quarter, WALA has been standing tall with several legal basics workshop including Copyright Basics, Trademark Basics, and Copyright Registration sessions and a full run of the Creative Entrepreneurship series at the stunning new Artisphere space in Arlington. With the support of our Events and Education Committees, we’ve also hosted several social and educational events, including:

WALA Writer's Evening on Sep 27, 2010 at International Arts & Artists Hillyer Gallery featuring DC’s top publishing agents and attorneys, including: Gail Ross, Elaine English, Jeff Kleinman, and John Mason for a richly informative evening covering everything you ever wanted to learn about the publishing industry. We appreciate all we made this standing room only event a rousing success!

An Artful Evening ~ WALA Cocktail Hour & Fashion Preview @ Industry Gallery & Conner Contemporary on Sep 30, 2010 at not one but two premiere DC galleries, a sneak fashion preview by the critically acclaimed Dana Ayanna Greaves, and the rock and soul sounds of musical artist, James Terrell. The newly minted WALA Fashion Sub-Committee brought SoHo to DC with style and plenty of panache. Kudos to all involved!

Hunton & Williams Presents: WALA "Say YES To Pro Bono!" Appreciation Happy Hour! on Nov 18, 2010 was an elegant evening of wine, spirits and appreciation. An intimate moment of WALA attorney and law firm stakeholders and supporters, this firm-sponsored evening marked the deepening of our partnership with this venerable legal institution.

Donating & Lending Your Artwork ~ An evening with Jo Laird on Oct 6, 2010 at Irvine Contemporary, legend Jo Backer Laird shared 25 years of experience in art law with a group of awe-struck WALA members. Ms. Laird delivered an amazing session on donating and lending artwork, offering her vast expertise garnered from decades of working with artists, dealers and collectors and her years with Patterson Belknap and Christie’s Inc. Thank you, Jo!

The 10^th Anniversary Future of Music Coalition Policy Summit on Oct 5, 2010 at Georgetown University WALA member attorneys Kurt R. Klaus, Esq. of Kurt Klaus Entertainment Law and Robyn Guilliams, Esq. from Fettman, Tolchin & Majors PC covered the Genius Bar at the historic event, ably assisting nervous artists with a host of pertinent art and entertainment law questions.

Don’t Miss These Forthcoming WALA Workshops, Clinics, and Events!

November 30 - 5 pm 501(c)(3) Workshop at DLA Piper

December 4 – 1:30pm-4:30pm WALA Co-Sponsors The Olu Yemisi & Co. 10th Anniv. Dance & Film Festival

December 9 (by appointment) Legal Clinic at DLA Piper

December 16 - 7 pm Trademark Basics Workshop at Finnegan

WALA Co-Sponsors Olu Yemisi & Co. 10th Anniv. Dance & Film Festival

2010-11-23T15:37:00.000-05:00

Don’t Miss This! Celebrate 10 Years With Olu!

Olu Yemisi & Co. Entertainment Presents:

10^th Anniversary Festivities and An Afternoon of Dance on Film

A triple screening of the electric Rhythm & Body Language and Dance TV Show I & II

Saturday December 4, 2010

1:30pm-4:30pm

Martin Luther King Library

901 G St. N.W.

Publish Post

Washington, DC 20001, Room A-5

Free

RSVP (240)429-2063

http://www.DanceWithMeDC.com

WALA members should come out and enjoy a wonderful afternoon of music, film and dance!

Rhythm and Body Language

Film Synopsis: The Caribbean heat meets the stage. This documentary chronicles the first eight years of Olu Yemisi & Company Entertainment. It showcases dance and music in the stage performers lives. It includes footage from their theater performances, festivals, and cultural events. It also features an interview and personal stories from Olu Yemisi. This film shows how the performing arts enrich lives.

About Olu Yemisi

Olu Yemisi is the director of Olu Yemisi & Company Entertainment. Her films include "Street Art", "Rhythm & Body Language", Environmental, "A Tribute to Michael Jackson", "Dance TV Show I", "Dance TV Show" and "The Experience". She also produces public service announcements. In addition to film, Olu Yemisi has produced and directed performances and dance theater for over 10 years. She also created over 20 performing arts festivals and events. She has taught dance for over 11 years. Olu is the choreographer of the entire repertoire for Olu Yemisi & Company Dancers. Her dance company performs Afro Caribbean, Afro Latin, and Jazz dance. She also promotes Jazz music. Recently, Olu was chosen by Dance/USA to represent the Washington D.C. area as a cultural ambassador for the performing arts at the National Performing Arts Conference in Denver, Colorado. She also has addressed congressional staff on Capital Hill in Washington, D.C. about the arts. Olu Yemisi is available for film productions, performances, lectures, & workshops abroad.

President's Message: Thanks for Giving

2010-11-18T09:00:00.000-05:00

With Thanksgiving just around the corner and the end of the year close at hand, it is once again time to reflect on the year's accomplishments, to give thanks and t0 count blessings.

WALA has been quite fortunate: in a year filled with economic challenges, we are still open for business. This has been no easy feat. Legal services and arts organizations alike have struggled to operate amidst significant financial shortfalls. Like our sister organizations, WALA has not gone unscathed. We face a unique challenge in making the case that an organization that is BOTH a legal services and arts organization merits financial support.

The one reason that we have kept our doors open this year: your support. I am deeply thankful for the countless hours our volunteer attorneys have given for artists and arts organizations who could not afford legal representation -- without you, many of our community's artists would be without legal assistance in a time when it is needed most. I am thankful for our committee members and long-standing supporters, who enabled WALA to continue its many educational programs, clinics and events. I am also deeply grateful for our staff, without whose dedication we would never have kept our doors open. In short, WALA's strong and supportive community has ensured its survival.

To recognize the commitment of our community that we are gathering to give thanks this evening and celebrate. We do say YES! to pro bono and I hope you will join us. While the event is free, we ask you to consider building upon your community support of WALA with a financial contribution to support our operations. I ask you to do this on behalf of WALA's dedicated staff who have worked tirelessly this year, determined to ensure each artist and arts organization in need was matched with the legal resources and education it needed.

If you cannot join us this evening, please offer your support and look for our year end letter in the weeks ahead summarizing our accomplishments and share your enthusiasm for WALA by inviting friends and family to become members and support us. We would like to ensure the future of our organization and the welfare of our creative community for years to come. We have great ideas to increase our impact in our community. To accomplish our goal, we need your support.

Much thanks to you for giving your time, your money and your support.

WALA Needs You! Fall 2010 Campaign

2010-11-05T18:59:00.000-04:00

Dear Supporter,

Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts (WALA) has played a critical role in helping the creative community meet its legal needs for over 25 years. Now, WALA needs you.

The demand for WALA’s services is on the rise as the ongoing economic rollercoaster has uniquely challenged the creative community. Creatives, frequently working as independent contractors, have faced significant revenue declines with little or no financial net. The hard-hit media and publishing industries—the largest sectors of the DC creative community—have made dramatic cutbacks, impacting the livelihood of thousands of writers and technical artists. Likewise, many performing arts companies and other arts organizations have suffered debilitating financial setbacks with dwindling grant support and donations. According to the 2010 Creative Capital: The Creative DC Action Agenda report, arts funding experienced a 20-million dollar decline last year. Government funding is also reduced: reports indicate that the DC Commission for the Arts and Humanities budget will face a 10% reduction in FY2011—a decrease for the third consecutive year—representing a half million dollar loss in support for the creative community. Compounding the impact of these precipitous revenue decreases: DC commercial real estate is now the most expensive in the nation, meaning that affordable artist workspace and boutique business space is increasingly scarce. There is a silver lining . . . .

The creative community is part of the solution. If the banks were too big to fail, the creative community is too critical to fail, for it holds the key to economic recovery: innovation. The creative economy is a vital force in the District, now a top 10 urban destination for college graduates holding arts degrees and creative entrepreneurs. In addition to the increasingly important role the creative arts have in our local economy, it is a lynchpin to economic development in underserved and impoverished communities. Community-based arts organizations are significant drivers in building stronger, more cohesive neighborhoods, which in turn leads to economic development and growth.

WALA serves a core function in developing a vibrant creative economy. Creatives need access to legal resources, especially those who cannot afford a lawyer. Corresponding with the recession, the demand for WALA services has grown every year for the last three years. To meet the increased need, WALA has strengthened its relationships with partnering law firms, volunteer attorneys, creative non-profits and entertainment business professionals. During 2009-2010, WALA has increased our impact within the creative community:

· Over 300 attorney, creative, law firm and arts organizations members, increasing by an average of 15-20% each year.

· Nearly 300 creatives acquired vital knowledge through WALA’s educational programs.

· Over 250 low-income and emerging creatives received one-on one legal consultations through legal clinics and pro bono or reduced-fee legal services.

· Expanded programming to new locations to serve creative communities throughout all of DC, including the first WALA programs held in Ward 8, East of the Anacostia River.

WALA intends to increase its impact within the DC arts community, both qualitatively and quantitatively. We seek to diversify our programming, to expand legal clinics and to include continuing legal education. Over 90,000 people in our city work in creative fields, and so the need for support is monumental. To meet those goals, we have expanded our Education and Outreach to bring greater awareness of our services to underserved populations and neighborhoods that can best benefit from the vital resources and services WALA has to offer. WALA has increased advocacy on issues critical for the revitalization of area communities, working in collaboration with other organizations to increase the presence of arts in unused and abandoned real estate space.

WALA has improved how members connect to the legal community and to each other. WALA has increased our online presence with a revamped website, the WALA blog and social networking presences on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms. We’ve expanded networking opportunities through monthly social events. In the past year, we’ve doubled the number of innovative educational sessions we offer. These programs have been added to our core 12 legal clinics and 12 “Legal Basics” workshops, designed to serve artists and nonprofits, and to build the next generation of legal professionals in sports and entertainment law. We’ve increased access points for artists through bold new subcommittees in Film, Music, and Fashion that further diversify our informational offerings to members. And, still there is so much more to do, so much need to meet.

To maintain our current efforts and build fresh, innovative programming, we need you. Please make a tax-deductible donation to WALA, one reflective of your passion for the arts and your compassion for those in need. Consider making a gift of a WALA membership to a loved one or cherished organization. WALA membership is as low as $20 for students. We also need you to tell us how we can better serve you in the coming year. As we plan for 2011, your ideas and concerns are important to us. Your voice is critical in our future planning.

Every $1.00 spent with WALA is a $2.50 return investment to you and our community. Thanks to hundreds of dedicated volunteers, WALA is able to maximize every cent we receive. Still, we need to further build our infrastructure and diversify our capacities to better meet the varying and evolving needs of the area’s artistic and legal communities. Please join us in making our community stronger.

For this year’s annual campaign, we ask area law firms to consider becoming a member of the exclusive WALA Platinum 30, a donor tier reserved for firms that give at least $2500 to WALA. We also ask individual supporters to consider joining WALA’s Platinum 300 by making a generous gift of $250 dollars or more. WALA intends to provide unique exposure, marketing and networking benefits to those who are part of WALA Platinum. WALA also gratefully accepts any donation of $5, $10, $20—any amount that helps bring us closer to meeting our mission of supporting area artists.

Making a contribution is easy. You may send checks payable to WALA or visit www.thewala.org to make an online, tax-deductible donation. Assist us in continuing the work that has helped support our creative community for over 25 years. Thank you in advance for your consideration and support.

Warmest regards,

L. Michael Gipson

Executive Director

Laura A. Possessky, Esq.

Board Chair

WALA Pro Bono Appreciation Happy Hour Event!

2010-11-05T18:41:00.000-04:00

Thanks to the generous support of Hunton & Williams, the Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts is hosting an exclusive happy hour event, "Say YES To Pro Bono!" in honor of the attorneys and firms that make our pro bono work possible. Come by and meet the new WALA Executive Director, L. Michael Gipson. He can't wait to meet you and hear your vision for WALA 2011!

As we are in the middle of our autumn/winter fundraising season, we are humbly requesting tax-deductible donations of $50 or more for this event. With limited space available, please RSVP by securing tickets through Eventbrite. You can also get directions by clicking the image above. We look forward to your joining the libations and festivities!

Copyright Basics Workshop ~ October 27 @ 7PM @ Finnegan

2010-10-26T21:25:00.000-04:00

Interested in learning about copyrights?

Do you have a creative work that you want to copyright?

Come learn about the basics of copyright at this presentation and Q & A session.

October 27 - 7 pm
Copyright Basics Workshop at Finnegan

It's not too late to sign up: Click here.

WALA Workshops @ Artisphere + Check out Artisphere's Calendar for Oct. & Nov.

2010-10-04T16:57:00.000-04:00

Click here for the Artisphere brochure (w/WALA Workshops listed).

Click here for just WALA workshops.

Music, Music, Music !

2010-10-03T16:53:00.000-04:00

10/10/10 at the Artisphere

IBIS will take part in the grand opening festivities for Arlington's newest
(and coolest) arts venue: The Artisphere.

We will be performing for their open house on Sunday, October 10, around 7 pm.

Sunday, October 17 at 2 pm

IBIS at the BELMONT MANSION

We couldn't be more excited about this! This spectacularly beautiful room will host
a concert of music by Still, Gershwin, Mozart and Francaix.
Champagne reception to follow.

National Headquarters of the Order of the Eastern Star
1618 New Hampshire Avenue, NW Washington DC

Tickets $25

Available from the Belmont Mansion: (202)667-4737
or email susan@ibischambermusic.org

The proceeds will benefit the MusicLink Foundation, an organization that
promotes music education for underserved children.

Future of Music Coalition POLICY SUMMIT in DC through October 5th

2010-10-03T16:49:00.000-04:00

Future of Music Policy Summit 2010

from http://futureofmusic.org/events/future-music-policy-summit-2010

In ten years of fighting for musicians, Future of Music Coalition has witnessed tremendous changes in the music ecosystem — from disruptions in traditional business models to alternative revenue streams for creators. Throughout our history, FMC has been guided by the conviction that musicians need access to audiences and adequate compensation to truly thrive.
The 10th Anniversary Future of Music Policy Summit puts the focus where it belongs: on the artists who are the very reason for our existence. It is the talent and creativity of musicians, songwriters and composers that bring clarity and focus to the pressing issues facing the entire music community.

The 10th Anniversary Future of Music Policy Summit brings together an incredible array of musicians, arts advocates, policymakers, technologists, media representatives and industry figures to discuss issues at the intersection of music, technology, policy and law. Over three days, connections will be made, challenges will be identified, and solutions will be considered. Your participation in these conversations is crucial to the future of music.

ScriptDC - WALA members enjoy a discounted admission!

2010-09-30T05:32:00.000-04:00

ScriptDC is the premiere conference for Mid-Atlantic filmmakers to achieve their creative dreams by connecting them with accomplished teachers, consultants and industry professionals.

Confirmed presenters include:
Lisa Cortes (Precious), Megan Holley (Sunshine Cleaning), Claudia Myers (Kettle of Fish), Dawn Porter (Serious Moonlight), Stephen Harris (A&E), Maureen Ryan (Man on Wire), Ed Burns (The Wire), Kelley Baker (Angry Filmmaker), Aviva Kempner (Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg), Walter Gottlieb (Final Cut Productions), Jenny Halper (Mandalay Entertainment), Erin Keating (IFC TV), Cid Collins Walker (Black Opal Prods), Heather Waters (Creative World Awards), Judy Levenson (National Geographic), Libby Richman (Half Yard Productions).

The weekend-long event, includes:
* Opening Night Screening and Q&A;
* Pitching your idea to industry professionals;
* Screenplay readings & critiques;
* Workshops for all skill levels;
* DC Shorts Screenplay Competition.
October 16 schedule here.
October 17 schedule here.

ScriptDC is the largest event of its kind in the region. But registration is limited.

Prefer paper? Download registration form and fax to the WIFV Office, 202-429-9440

What happened at the hearing on the Bill to Protect Artists?

2010-09-24T22:19:00.000-04:00

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!

(e)merge 2 ~ Panel Discussion & Party, Saturday, October 2, 4-8pm

2010-09-21T20:45:00.000-04:00

(e)merge

(e)merge 2 panel discussion + party
Saturday, October 2nd, 4 - 8 pm at Hamiltonian Gallery, 1353 U Street, NW, WDC

Conner Contemporary Art and Hamiltonian Artists will host an event specifically for area emerging artists beginning with a panel discussion focusing on gallery representation and the dynamics of artist-gallery relationships.

Panelists:

Seth Adelsberger - visual artist, represented by Civilian Art Projects, and co-founder of Nudashank Gallery
Craig Appelbaum - founder of Industry Gallery
Leigh Conner - co-founder Conner Contemporary Art
Kathryn Cornelius - performance artist, represented by Curator's Office
Maggie Michael - visual artist, represented by G Fine Art
Moderated by Jacqueline Ionita, Director of Hamiltonian Gallery

The (e)merge 2 panel discussion begins promptly at 4pm; directly followed by (e)merge 2 party - hang out with your community, enjoy DJ, food and drink.

(e)merge 2 is generously sponsored by Marvin Restaurant and the Pink Line Project.

Hamiltonian Artists is a 501c (3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing professional development opportunities for creative artists in their early careers. We offer a competitive two-year fellowship program for new innovative visual artists in all media, which are awarded through an annual competition.

Hamiltonian Artists is funded in part by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Wandering Souls presents Twelfth Night

2010-09-21T20:35:00.000-04:00

Wandering Souls presents (www.wanderingsouls.org)
William Shakespeare's
Twelfth Night
Directed by Andrew Wassenich
Featuring: Luke Cieslewicz, Grant Cloyd, Lex Davis, Melissa Marie Hmelnicky, Megan Reichelt, Julie Roundtree, Teresa Spencer and Jacob Yeh Running Time: 1 hour

Wit, music, romance and revelry are the food of love in this comedic feast of lovers and fools. One of Shakespeare's most famous comedies - Twelfth Night is a play about love in all it's excess, the madness it can drive us to, the pain it gives us and finally the ability to heal that pain. Viola and her twin brother are shipwrecked in the magical land of Illyria, each believing the other drowned. Disguised as a young man, and entering the service of the lovesick Duke Orsino,Viola woos the wistful lady Olivia for her new master and finds herself in a most unusual and hilarious love triangle. Merry deceptions, mistaken identities and yellow stockings abound in this lilting comedy.

Remaining Public Pay-What-You-Can Shows
Wednesday, September 22 at 7:00 pm (Edmund Burke School, 4101 Connecticut Avenue, NW)
Friday, September 24 at 7:30 pm (Bloombars, 3222 11th Street NW)
Wednesday, September 29 at 7:00 pm (Church of the Pilgrims, 2201 P Street NW)

About Wandering Souls
Wandering Souls is dedicated to making the luxury of the arts more accessible to everyone!At the core of our mission is a belief that the arts can fuel our imagination, encourage our personal growth and help unite individuals and communities. Yet, the richness of the arts is often considered a luxury. By bringing stripped-down, high quality, energetic performances to those who have little or no access we hope to break down that misconception.
We hope to open the channels to engaging conversations , new experiences and-- in the process-- provide opportunities for a broader cultural exchange.

American Poetry Museum

2010-09-19T08:39:00.000-04:00

The American Poetry Museum is dedicated to celebrating poetry, promoting literacy, fostering meaningful dialogue, encouraging an appreciation for the diversity of the American experience, and educating local, national, and international audiences through the presentation, preservation and interpretation of American poetry.

Founded in 2004, APM is one of the first museums in the world dedicated to collecting, interpreting and presenting American poetry. We are committed to the continuation of poetry as a literary and performance art and the use of poetry as an active tool for education.

September 30th, WALA Cocktail Hour & Fashion Preview w/ARTAYA

2010-09-16T22:47:00.000-04:00

Cocktail Hour & ARTAYA ~ Fashion Preview!

6pm

Dana Ayanna Greaves named one of "the District's most promising design talents" by Holly Thomas in the Washington Post Magazine.

Our generous host: Industry Gallery

Copyright Registration Panel, Q & A, & Form Review

2010-09-15T14:32:00.000-04:00

Bring your brown bag lunch and join a panel of copyright registration specialists for information and guidance about registering your creative works. Bring your questions and/or completed copyright registration forms.
This is a must-attend session for visual artists, musicians and songwriters, screenwriters, film makers, and fiction and nonfiction writers.

October 14th, 2010 from 11:30am until 1:30pm.
Location: International Arts & Artists, Hillyer Gallery
Free for WALA & IA&A members, $30 for non-members.
RSVP today to insure a spot!

Free Small Business Advice Clinic on 9/22 ~ DC Bar Pro Bono Program

2010-09-15T00:55:00.000-04:00

Click here for details.

All about Trademarks

2010-09-15T00:32:00.000-04:00

® ™ ® ® ® ® ™ ™ ® ® ®

Learn all about trademarks at the upcoming WALA Trademark Basics Workshop:

Wednesday, September 29, 2010 from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Screenplay Competition ~ Saturday, October 16th @ 7pm

2010-09-14T15:28:00.000-04:00

Watch a script read live.

Choose a winner.

See the final film next year!

Saturday, October 16 @ 7:00pm

Saturday, October 16 @ 7:00pm
The Theatre @ Mount Vernon United Methodist Church
900 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Tickets will go on sale September 9.
We are very proud to present our fourth DC Shorts Screenplay Competition. Watch six scripts read live by actors and the screenwriter! At the end of the show, vote for your favorite script. The winner will receive $1000 on the spot, plus another $1,000 when the film is completed. Plus, you can see the final movie at DC Shorts 2011! This is a unique competition — no one presents scripts in this way.

Catching Up

Mary Ratliff, Writer
Reston, VA
A prison guard must make a decision that will affect the future of a criminal, and put his own daughter at risk.

Interview Date

Grant Lyon, Writer
Oakland, CA
In a case of mistake identity, a couple on their first date accidentally cross signals with a job interview.

The Dressing Room

Jackie Boor, Writer
Sacramento, CA
A department store dressing room is an unexpected crossroad for a tired housewife and a young woman.

Mancrush

Matt Wheeler, Writer
Santa Monica, CA
Two guys argue about which of them is “best mates” with their mutual friend, Dave.

Surreal Estate

Lori Romero, Writer
Santa Fe, NM
Mr. Smith’s trials and tribulations while renting a home are not normal procedure.

Break Up, Break In, Break Out

Kelli Herod, Writer
Arlington, VA
With a little help from her friends, a woman works through the end of a relationship.

WISH TO BE CAST IN THE LIVE READINGS? Click here!

Script DC ~ October 15th - 17th

2010-09-13T00:49:00.000-04:00

ScriptDC is the premiere conference for Mid-Atlantic writers and filmmakers to achieve their creative dreams by connecting them with accomplished teachers, consultants and industry professionals.

The weekend-long event includes:

•Opening Night Screening and Q&A
•Pitch your idea to industry professionals
•Hear your screenplay read aloud by actors
•Workshops for all skill levels — from beginner to seasoned pro
•Vote for the DC Shorts Screenplay Competition winner

Schedule of Events

Find Answers to Your Questions ~ Here!

2010-09-12T11:39:00.000-04:00

• What can a literary agent do for you as a writer?

• What do you need to know about trademarks?

• What factors should you consider when lending or donating our work?

• Do you need to a one-on-one consultation with an attorney?

• Would you like to have your copyright application accepted without a hitch?

• Are you a creative entrepreneur ~
- Forming a organizational entity?

- Registering a copyright or trademark?

- Entering into a contract or seeking licensing arrangements?

- Developing tax strategies?

- Looking to improve your negotiating skills?

- Signing a commercial lease agreement?

You've come to the right place! Click on the links of your choice to register.

Questions? education@thewala.org