A singularly useful contribution to the working live of ACT artists and arts organisations is to be made by the ACT Government, which will contribute $10,000 to a national partnership to revamp the Arts Law Centre of Australia.

Arts Law is the national community legal centre for the arts which provides specialised legal and business advice, referral services, professional development resources and advocacy for artists and arts organisations and the contribution will mean that  will have access to free or subsidised legal advice on matters including contracts, copyright, moral rights, trade marks, business names and structures, defamation, insurance and employment.

ACT Arts Minister Joy Burch said the Government’s contribution was part of a national approach to legal services in the arts through a new agreement with the Australia Council.

“Through Arts Law, Canberra artists have access to a free telephone service, a wide range of templates for legal agreements and low-cost document review services for contracts and other legal documents,” Ms Burch added.

She noted that over 40 of our artists and arts organisations seek advice annually, so the contribution would be “excellent value for money for the ACT.”