4/17/10 RACC Workshop: Contracts for Artists and Creative Professionals

The discussion of art business contracts will focus on the Oregon Artwork Consignment law, collaboration agreements, licensing and sales agreements, creative services agreements, commission deals, and agent representation agreements. Many creative service providers get into legal trouble due to working with clients without proper contracts. Minimizing legal risk and customer conflicts is easier once you understand the basic terms found in these types of contracts. This workshop will focus on both understanding contracts that you are presented by others as well as creating your own agreements.

We will discuss some basic terms and steps that will enable you to avoid conflicts with clients by creating workable, plain-English contracts. Having a clear and well-written contract is essential in conveying an impression of professionalism to your customers. A well-crafted, “user friendly” agreement will protect your own legal interests, while setting a professional tone at the start of your working relationship. Contracts to be discussed will include: Employment agreements (independent contractors, employment and work-for-hire); Oregon consignment agreements, Model releases, Agency Agreements, Licensing and commission contracts. 

Note that basic copyright law will not be covered in the Contracts workshop. It is strongly suggested that attendees register for the Copyright class, or otherwise have a good understanding of copyright law as a prerequisite for the Contract class. Nearly every contract relating to the business of selling or licensing art and providing creative services will involve copyrights.

Saturday, April 17, 9:30am – 12:30pm Location: Willamette University*, 1120 NW Couch, Ste. 450, Portland, OR 97209

Presenter: Peter Vaughan Shaver, Esq. is a Portland-based arts & entertainment attorney at his firm Sound Advice, LLC. He graduated from the University of Oregon - School of Law (J.D., 1998, Certificate in Intellectual Property) and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. His primary areas of legal expertise are intellectual property and general business law, with an emphasis on copyrights, trademarks, entertainment, music law, art law, Internet law, licensing, real estate and wills.

Peter is a regular lecturer at the Oregon School of Arts and Crafts, The Regional Arts and Culture Council, Marylhurst University, PCC-Sylvania, PCC-Cascade, The Art Institute of Portland, the Graphic Artists' Guild, the Women's Art Caucus, The Portland Songwriters Association, The American Federation of Musicians, and other educational and community arts groups.

Mr. Shaver serves on the advisory boards for the MusicFest NW and PDX POP NOW! music festivals and the 100th Monkey Studio. He is a former non-profit Board member for the Creative Music Guild (CMG), Orlo / The Bear Deluxe Magazine (Portland), The Northwest Lawyers and Artists (NWLA) and The Eugene Lawyers for the Arts (ELA).

Note: To register for both this workshop and the workshop Copyrights for Artists and Creative Professionals and receive $10 off, use the button below on the right.

* Willamette University's Atkinson Graduate School of Management is a place where students, teachers and executives come together to share experiences, examine current business issues and develop innovative and creative thinking. Programs include an evening MBA for Professionals (in Salem and Portland, Oregon), full-time MBA for Career Change and Early Career MBA programs (in Salem, Oregon) and non-degree Executive Education programs. The Willamette University MBA is accredited by AACSB International and is committed to preparing graduates to serve business, government and not-for-profit organizations.