About California Lawyers for the Arts

California Lawyers for the Arts (CLA) was founded in 1974 with the mission of empowering artists of all disciplines and the creative community by providing education, representation, dispute resolution, and advocacy. In addition, CLA aims to be a model arts organization, focusing on innovation and collaboration, while providing statewide and national leadership in the field of art/law organizations and articulating a role for the arts in community development. CLA’s leadership and services strengthen the arts for the benefit of communities throughout California.

CLA’s core services include legal consultations with attorneys who specialize in arts and entertainment fields; alternative dispute resolution services, including negotiations counselling, conciliation, mediation, arbitration and facilitation; education programs that foster more informed, empowered, and economically resilient creative professionals and sustainable arts businesses; and arts workforce development programs for youth and adults. Since the organization’s inception, we have also been engaged in advocacy to support artists’ rights, freedom of expression, and public funding for the arts. Cross-sector initiatives have included community development, arts and the environment, and arts in corrections and re-entry.

Classes

The current class descriptions below are to give scholarship applicants an idea of what topics each instructor will be covering. These are NOT finalized descriptions, they are to give prospective scholarship applicants a sense of what will be available. Finalized descriptions, schedules, and links are forthcoming.

Please remember to check back frequently for more detailed updates on class dates, times, or registration links. If you have questions about a particular class, please contact the instructor directly.

How to Secure Your Financial Future – 5 Simple Steps

Freelance artists and creative entrepreneurs often face unique financial challenges, balancing inconsistent income, self-employment taxes, and the absence of employer-sponsored retirement plans or benefits. This workshop is designed specifically for self-employed creatives and provides actionable guidance for building long-term financial security, regardless of career stage or income level.

Participants will learn five essential steps to establishing a strong financial foundation: building an emergency fund, developing a consistent savings habit, eliminating high-interest credit card debt, understanding the fundamentals of investing through diversified funds, and determining when and how to work with a financial advisor. The workshop will also address common financial obstacles faced by independent artists and offer realistic strategies for managing variable income while planning for the future.

By the end of the session, participants will feel more confident taking control of their personal finances and will leave with practical tools to reduce financial stress, strengthen their financial resilience, and build toward a more secure future. This two-hour workshop will be offered virtually and can accommodate an unlimited number of participants. The class will be offered twice during the 12-month project period, with the first session scheduled for Fall/Winter 2026 and the second during Spring/Summer 2027.

Scheduled Speaker: Tamara Bates

REGISTRATION OPENING SOON.

Please contact the instructor if you have any questions.

How to Form and Maintain a Successful Arts Business: Business & Legal Basics for Artists of all Disciplines

Artists often receive extensive training in their craft but little guidance on how to build a sustainable and financially successful creative business. This practical workshop equips artists with the tools to transform their creative practice into a thriving enterprise by combining arts business strategies with essential legal knowledge. Participants will explore topics including developing profitable business models, identifying and diversifying revenue streams, attracting and retaining clients, pricing creative work, and building systems that support long-term growth and financial sustainability.

The workshop will also cover the legal foundations every creative entrepreneur should understand, including choosing an appropriate business structure, contracts, intellectual property, licensing, and risk management. By integrating practical business planning with legal best practices, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of how to build, protect, and grow a successful creative business.

Attendees will leave with actionable strategies and resources they can immediately implement to strengthen the financial sustainability of their artistic practice while minimizing legal risk. The workshop will be offered twice, in person, and will accommodate up to 20 participants per workshop within a 12-month period, with one session scheduled during Fall/Winter 2026 and a second during Spring/Summer 2027.

Scheduled Speakers: Kate Farrall (Confirmed) Chinwe Ohanele, Esq. (Pending)

REGISTRATION OPENING SOON.

Please contact the organization if you have any questions.

Negotiation Skills and Conflict Resolution for Artists of all Disciplines

Creative work depends on collaboration, communication, and strong professional relationships. Whether navigating new business relationships with collaborators, clients, galleries, producers, arts organizations, or business partners, artists benefit from practical communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills, which empower them to advocate confidently for fair compensation, clear contract terms, and equitable creative partnerships. Strong negotiation skills help build sustainable careers by protecting artists' rights while fostering productive, long-term professional relationships. With the added component of conflict resolution, artists learn to communicate effectively and address disputes constructively before they escalate.

This interactive two-hour, in-person workshop introduces artists of all disciplines to the fundamentals of negotiation skills and conflict resolution through the lens of the creative sector. Participants will develop practical communication and negotiation strategies for navigating difficult conversations and learn when direct negotiation may be the most effective approach. The workshop also introduces mediation as a confidential, collaborative process facilitated by a neutral and impartial third party, highlighting the distinctions between negotiation and mediation and when each may be appropriate. Real-world scenarios drawn from the arts community will illustrate common conflicts while demonstrating how these skills can also be applied to workplace, housing, and other everyday disputes. 

The primary goal of the workshop is to equip artists with practical tools to protect professional relationships, strengthen collaborations, and confidently navigate challenging situations. Participants will leave with a greater understanding of how to communicate and negotiate effectively, how to de-escalate difficult conversations when conflicts arise, and to recognize when mediation may offer the best path forward. The workshop will accommodate up to 12 participants per workshop and will be offered twice within a 12-month period, with one session scheduled during Fall/Winter 2026 and a second during Spring/Summer 2027.

Scheduled speakers: Jody Prunier and Daniela DeGregorio (Confirmed)

REGISTRATION OPENING SOON

Please contact the organization if you have any questions.