Artist-Dealer Relationships Clinic (May 2024)

In 2012, New York passed an amendment to its Arts & Cultural Affairs Law, N.Y. Arts & Cult. Aff. Law §12.01 (2012), that affects the consignment relationship between artists and dealers and creates critical new duties—and liabilities, for the art dealer. Most importantly, it makes using any form of agreement drafted under the old law risky, particularly for the gallery or consignee.

This Clinic connects artists, dealers, and attorneys to forge meaningful relations and provides a platform for artists and dealers to learn about art contracts, consignment agreements, and have their questions on the topic addressed by experts in the field.

Keynote Presentation Topic: Negotiation Strategies for Artists

This keynote presentation for this session of the Artist-Dealer Relationships Clinic will cover negotiation strategies for consignment and representation agreements, focusing on highly negotiated clauses such as payment, production costs, and insurance.

Please be sure to read the following information and to refer to our FAQ below to ensure that you come fully prepared for the Clinic.

Date

Our session hosted by the Center for Art Law is on May 15, 2024 5:30pm-8:00pm EDT.

Schedule

• 5:30–6:00 PM EDT: Keynote Presentation by Cara Miller
• 6:00–8:00 PM EDT: Individual Consultation (participating artists will be paired with a volunteer attorney for a confidential 15 – 20 minute consultation)

Clinic sessions are hosted on Zoom. The consultations take place in breakout rooms to ensure confidentiality.

Volunteer Attorneys

• David J. Breyer | Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP
• Mitch Raab | Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP
• Wendy Dickieson | Withersworldwide LLP
• Catlan McCurdy | McCurdy Laud LLC
• Olivia Taylor | Withersworldwide LLP

Are you interested in participating as a volunteer attorney? Please contact us at clinic@itsartlaw.org.

About the Speaker: Cara Miller

Cara Miller serves as Commercial Counsel at Electronic Arts in Los Angeles, where she leads the drafting and negotiation of contracts for various business units including marketing, publishing, and corporate philanthropy. Leveraging her expertise in contract law, Cara provides accessible legal guidance to empower clients in navigating complex contracts with confidence. She currently provides support for The Artist’s Contract, a hub for free legal contracts for visual artists and her previous roles include California Lawyers for the Arts and SFMoMA.

Cara is a member of the California Bar Association and received her JD from the University of California, Hastings and her BA in Art History and Arts Management from the University of San Francisco.

About the Center for Art Law

The Center for Art Law is a Brooklyn-based research and education nonprofit that offers resources and programming for the advancement of a vibrant arts and law community. Through its website and monthly Art Law Blast newsletter, the Center disseminates information and keeps readers updated on art- and law-related news, events, cases, and publications. The Center facilitates conversations by hosting and participating in programs including conferences, workshops and clinics for visual artists, film screenings, and more. Today a world-renowned asset to the art law field, the Center serves artists, attorneys, students and scholars of both disciplines, art market professionals, and members of the general public.

FAQs

Who may register?

• The 1:1 consultations that occur at the Clinic are suitable to any artist or dealer interested in learning more contracts and consignment agreements to build artist-dealer relations. Additionally, all are welcome to attend and listen to the Keynote Address.
• The Clinic best serves those artists who have no attorneys and are seeking a first-time legal consultation.

How do I register?

• Pre-registration is mandatory for a $10 fee.
• Registration takes place through Eventbrite, where you will need to fill out a confidential intake form which will enable us to find you the assistance that you need.
• Dial-in details and other instructions will be emailed once registration has been confirmed; be sure to check your emails in the days leading up to the Clinic.

How do I prepare for the Clinic?

• While filling out the registration form you can mention any specific questions or areas you need a consultation in.
• You can prepare a list of questions and concerns you have to discuss during the consultation.

What happens after the Clinic?

• The Center for Art Law will be providing a handout on Artist-Dealer relations as a guide and the contact information of the Volunteer Attorneys and Professionals participating in each session.
• If you wish to pursue the conversation with the Volunteer Attorneys or Professionals participating in the session, you should reach out to them directly!

The Center is not responsible for facilitating conversations between the participants and the volunteers after the session.

VERY IMPORTANT:

• Attending this legal clinic does not create an attorney-client relationship.
• The information provided during the individual strategy session does not constitute legal advice.
• All the information shared during the Clinic will be kept confidential.

If you have any further questions, please contact us at clinic@itsartlaw.org.