Feature

Arts Focus: Creative Entrepreneurs Workshop Series

This column is written and sponsored by Arlington Arts / Arlington Cultural Affairs, a division of Arlington Economic Development.

Ready to get down to business with your artistic endeavors?

Arlington Cultural Affairs, in partnership with Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts (WALA) announces the Creative Entrepreneurs Series @Arlington Arts. The six sessions (all presentations with Q&A) will be held on consecutive Wednesdays, from March 27 through May 1, from 7-9 p.m. at Theatre on the Run in Shirlington.

WALA’s Creative Entrepreneurs Series (CES) is designed to help creatives of all kinds take the next step in their professional career by creating their own business. Explore the basics of forming a business for your creative endeavors, from deciding whether to incorporate as a non-profit or for-profit entity, to understanding copyrights and trademarks, to contract and negotiation skills, and finally to taxes and understanding the grants process.

The Series offers tips on every skill you need to help you bring your best and most creative self to the community.

The Series constitutes the official launch of the Arts Enterprise Institute, a program of Arlington Arts to provide resources for artists so they can make a living as artists. Artists teaching artists is a cornerstone of our programs, which have been well received during the last year. The complete series is as follows:

  • Session 1:  Tax Strategies — March 27
    Benjamin Takis (founder, Tax-Exempt Solutions PLLC), Benjamin Grosz (partner, Ivins Phillips & Barker) and Jonathan Holbrook (associate, Ivins, Phillips & Barker)
  • Session 2:  Business Entities Formation — April 3
    Hardeep Grover (attorney, Tresquire)
  • Session 3:  Copyright/Trademark Protection & Use — April 10
    John D. Mason (Copyright Counselors, LLC) Arts/Ent. and intellectual property attorney
  • Session 4:  Contracts & Licensing — April 17
    Karl Means (Miles & Stockbridge, & fmr. Shareholder, Shulman Rogers)
  • Session 5:  Negotiation Strategies — April 24
    Facilitator TBA. Learn tips and tools for being a successful negotiator and collaborator.
  • Session 6:  Grants — May 1
    Paul Marengo (CEO, Promethean Fundraising; Volunteer Coordinator, FilmFestDC)

Since 1983, Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts has supported artistic expression and creative innovation by serving the legal needs of the Washington D.C., Virginia and Maryland arts and cultural communities. A 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, WALA provides access to education, advocacy, and legal services through workshops and seminars, legal clinics and pro bono legal referral services.

The series is free for WALA members, and $20 per workshop for non-members (registration for each individual workshop is required). For more detailed information on the sessions and the presenters, and to register, visit Eventbrite at this link.