AIR consists of two projects: a partnership with the Artistic Freedom Initiative (AFI), in which students will conduct research on the suppression of artistic freedom in various countries, and a partnership with the California Lawyers for the Arts (CLA), in which students will prepare legal educational materials for artists under attorney supervision. Students will participate in one of the two projects.
Along with the legal team at AFI, students will prepare a comprehensive study of the suppression of artistic freedom in various countries. First, students will research the various universal, regional, and national instruments that protect creative expression. Second, they will divide up into smaller teams and research efforts by the governments of the selected countries to restrict artistic freedom. They will help to identify the effects of these efforts, as well as some of the measures countries should take to protect freedom of artistic expression, including best practices. The research will culminate in a report to be published and distributed at an AFI event at a future date to be announced. Students are invited to attend the event and may have the opportunity to present their research.
In collaboration with CLA, students will create educational videos, infographics, and other multimedia materials to be shared with artists and CLA member attorneys in the Bay Area and throughout the state of California through CLA’s network. These educational materials are intended to translate a breadth of legal issues artists might face to the public art community, in order to make legal concepts commonly faced by artists more accessible. A familiarity with IP, nonprofit, and employment law may be helpful, but is by no means necessary as the project itself will involve training and collaboration.
Supervision: Students in AIR provide legal services under the supervision of the Artistic Freedom Initiative and California Lawyers for the Arts.
Time commitment:
- AFI Project: 2-3 hours per week
- CLA Project: 2-3 hours per week
For more information, please contact the student leaders at airprobono@law.berkely.edu.