Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
Founded in 1969, VLA is the leading legal aid and education organization dedicated to New York artists and its arts and cultural organizations (ACOs). VLA strives to protect the artistic community's livelihoods, businesses, and creative works through access to dedicated legal representation and focused innovative education programs. To achieve this mission, VLA:
- facilitates pro bono legal representation for low-income artists and ACOs;
- offers legal counseling, education programs, advocacy, and alternative dispute resolution services to the entire arts community;
- trains lawyers to better serve the arts community; and
- advocates on behalf of artists to ensure their voices are heard.
VLA helps artists navigate legal challenges that can arise out of their work, providing crucial legal guidance that allows artists to focus on their creative practices. In doing so, VLA has fostered the careers of talented artists such as Twyla Tharp, Chapman Roberts, and Tony Kushner and advanced impactful New York organizations including BalletNext, the Caribbean Cultural Center, and Nuyorican Poets Café. Each year, VLA offers legal representation, education, and information to more than 10,000 low-income artists and ACOs and facilitates the contribution of more than $20 million in free legal services. The breadth and depth of high-quality services offered by VLA have made it the model for similar organizations across the country and around the world.