About Us
Arts Law is Australia’s independent national community legal centre for the arts, a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. We provide free or low cost specialised legal advice, education and resources to Australian artists and arts organisations across all art forms, on a wide range of arts related legal and business matters. Arts Law’s Artists in the Black program delivers targeted services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists nationally.
Purpose
Strengthen value and respect for arts and culture to make a better world.
Mission
Empower artists and creative communities through the law.
Vision
Arts Law aspires to be widely recognised as the trusted source of advice for artists and creative communities and as the preeminent authority on artists’ rights and arts law in Australia.
Values
In delivering our vision, Arts Law is guided by the values of excellence, accessibility, empowerment of artists, integrity, collaboration and innovation.
Arts Law’s Strategic Vision
Arts Law commenced the development of our 2021-2024 strategic plan in late 2019 when, in the final stages of its development, the COVID-19 pandemic exploded across the world, having a catastrophic impact on communities and economies. While the focus is now on recovery, the evolution of client and sector needs continues to evolve as we work towards the “new normal”.
We believe our purpose, goals and strategies, are ever more relevant and vital to the ability of the arts sector to respond to, and ultimately recover from, the economic and professional losses experienced by artists and their communities consequent to the pandemic. Our 2021-2024 Strategic Plan will help us reach these aspirations and guide Arts Law towards creating a better world.
More about Arts Law
Arts Law provides legal advice and information on a wide range of arts related legal and business matters including contracts, copyright, business structures, defamation, insurance, employment and taxation to artists and arts organisations across all art forms.
Arts Law’s team is led by Louise Buckingham as CEO. Our Board of directors, comprising expert legal, business and arts practitioners, is led by The Honourable Justice John Robertson Sackar, as President.
The work of Arts Law continues to be made possible with significant assistance from 320 pro bono legal practitioners located in all Australian States and Territories and a group of daytime volunteers, including law and other students, law graduates and qualified lawyers.
Creative Australia is the major funder of Arts Law, having funded its core activities since 1984 as the Australia Council. Creative Australia together with all State and Territory governments through their arts agencies have signed a National Funding Agreement with Arts Law. You can read more about our funding support here.
