Tag: Community Partner Spotlight

Today, we turn the spotlight over to one of our community partners, Asian American Arts Alliance (A4). They are a nonprofit “dedicated to strengthening Asian American artists and cultural groups through resource sharing, promotion, and community building.” After you read their spotlight blog, be sure to follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and X.

What is the history of your organization, and what is its mission?

The Asian American Arts Alliance (A4) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring greater representation, equity, and opportunities for Asian American artists and cultural organizations through resource sharing, promotion, and community building. Since 1983, A4 has sought to unify, promote, and represent the artistic and cultural producers of one of New York City’s fastest-growing populations. We are a diverse alliance of artists, organizations, and arts supporters who believe that working together as a pan-ethnic, multidisciplinary community is essential to nurturing the development of artists and arts groups. A4 serves as a thoughtful convener of the Asian American cultural workforce around issues of race, identity, and artmaking and provides a critical voice for this community. We are the only service organization in the country dedicated to the professional development of Asian American artists in all disciplines.

How do you support members of the creative community, and how can a creator get involved with your organization?

Asian American Arts Alliance offers programs that build community and provide resources through peer-learning, collaboration, and professional development, furthering the careers of Asian Americans in the arts and supporting a healthy arts ecosystem. Our programs include networking events, talks, workshops, and fellowships that lower barriers for engagement, embed pathways of access for artists to connect with cultural gatekeepers, advance opportunities for artists and arts administrators of color, and provide tools to develop Asian American leaders in the community.

There are numerous ways to join the A4 family and help us grow opportunities for Asian Americans in the arts. Donations help us provide the programs that build and connect our community. Attending our special events lets you experience and celebrate the rich and diverse talent for which we advocate every day. Volunteering and offering your time and services helps us execute our events and ongoing projects. Sharing your events and ideas allows us to support and amplify the Asian American creative sector.

What inspired your organization to become a Copyright Alliance community partner?

We are excited to partner with Copyright Alliance to broaden our network with experts who can share helpful information with our creative community consisting of artists, arts workers, designers, and more. Our community will also benefit from the complimentary workshops and cross-promotion they offer. 

What is one thing you wish creators understood more clearly about copyright?

Young emerging artists are often reluctant to think too far ahead into the future, but foresight to protect your work through copyright is essential to safeguarding against exploitation and infringement. We encourage all creatives to assume their work will take off and incorporate copyright into your work to protect your future, identity, and profits.

What advice would you give aspiring creators just starting out and unsure of how to protect their work?

Seek information from a professional, such as our colleagues at the Copyright Alliance!

Congrats to the Asian American Arts Alliance on their 40th Anniversary!

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If you aren’t already a member of the Copyright Alliance, you can join today by completing our Individual Creator Members membership form! Members gain access to monthly newsletters, educational webinars, and so much more — all for free!

Today, we turn the spotlight over to one of our community partners, The Ella Project. They are dedicated to providing “pro bono legal assistance, arts business services, and advocacy to our cultural community” in the New Orleans and Louisiana area. After you read their spotlight blog, be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

What is the history of your organization, and what is its mission?

Launched in 2004 with the mission that “We believe in the importance of the culture of New Orleans and Louisiana, and we empower the creators of their culture in a way that is just, equitable, and serves the artists, patrons and our diverse community.” The Ella Project provides direct pro bono legal assistance to moderate income artists, musicians, and grassroots nonprofits in Louisiana, presents regular workshops on arts law and arts business topics, provides assistance to moderate income inventors via its Louisiana Invents Patent Pro Bono Program, and advocates for forward-thinking policy changes and the development of a local, state and national government that supports and values the creators of our culture.

From its offices in the French Quarter, The Ella Project serves 250 or more pro bono legal clients a year in matters of copyright, trademark, patent, contract negotiation, licensing, and for and nonprofit incorporation. Legal services are primarily delivered by The Ella Project’s Co-Founder, Ashlye Keaton, who is assisted by her team of Tulane Law School volunteers. This partnership with Tulane Law School, where Ashlye also teaches, helps The Ella Project provide high quality pro bono legal assistance and ensure the artists and organizations of Louisiana have access to justice.

How do you support members of the creative community, and how can a creator get involved with your organization? 

Artists throughout Louisiana are encouraged to reach out to The Ella Project for assistance with any specific legal issue germane to their arts career. We love working with artists in the early stages of their career to make sure they are properly protected. Artists simply looking for greater knowledge and understanding of arts business can attend of our free workshops and webinars or schedule a consultation with a veteran of their industry via our Tete a Tete consulting program.

What inspired your organization to become a Copyright Alliance Community Partner?

Supporting copyright and the ability of creators to share their creations with the world in a manner of their choosing is a core value of The Ella Project. Having a community partner that shares this vision and can bring that message to Washington DC and beyond is essential to not only fulfilling our mission, but also in supporting a more creative, engaging, America.

How have copyright and related issues affected your organization and its creator base?

The ways that copyright law manifests itself in the context of the creative industries is at the core of our work with artists and arts businesses.  While the Copyright Act hasn’t changed much over the course of several decades, what has changed a lot is the way the arts, music and entertainment sectors have used the law to adapt to constantly evolving innovation and technology, which has impacted the ways consumers access content, in addition to the ways artists share in revenue streams.  There is no longer a single model for the ways that artists can maximize earning potential from their creative content and businesses. We are working hard to ensure that we are able to help our clients keep up with the ever-changing business models against laws that haven’t always been updated in a way that reinforced the overarching policy of the Copyright Act – to provide artists an incentive to create.  We see this as a challenge, but also as an opportunity, to identify ways that artists can use these tools to develop best practices in transitioning from the creative process to a creative business with transactions and models that promote fairness, equity, and a thriving quality of life.

What is one thing you wish creators understood more clearly about copyright?

We wish creators understood that the application of legal principles in connection with copyright is constantly changing in the bigger picture context of warp-speed innovation and the creative sector’s response to new technology. That while it is okay to be confused, but it is important to engage in ongoing education and to reach out to service providers like The Ella Project for ongoing, professional counsel.

What advice would you give aspiring creators just starting out and unsure of how to protect their work?

Identify the resources available to you for learning more about your rights, and if you have access to a volunteer lawyer who is well-versed, take advantage of that resource. Beyond that, start cultivating a team of people with different skill sets and experiences in rights management. Preparedness is critical to ensuring your rights are protected.

What are some current debates or issues surrounding copyright law that your organization is paying attention to, and what is your stance on them?

A major debate is whether it is any longer worth registering your copyright, especially given the constantly rising fees, changes in the registration protocols, and given that registration is not absolutely necessary. For a musician releasing a single every week or every month, especially where there is more than one songwriter and/or more than one recording artist involved in making the music, the cost of registering copyrights has become infeasible, and it makes way more sense to spend that money on marketing.  As attorneys, we always suggest that registering copyrights is a good idea.  As advocates, we have a harder time making that case.

What are some common misconceptions that creators have about copyright, and how does your organization address them?

There are still a lot of misconceptions about copyright.  We’re seeing a lot less around the old “poor man’s copyright” myth. A common misconception is that copyright doesn’t exist until registration.  More complex misconceptions have to do with identification of rightsholders, administration of creative content, and distribution of revenue.

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If you aren’t already a member of the Copyright Alliance, you can join today by completing our Individual Creator Members membership form! Members gain access to monthly newsletters, educational webinars, and so much more — all for free!

Today, we turn the spotlight over to one of our Community Partners, BIPOC Podcast Creators. They are a Black and Latina-owned non-profit organization dedicated to amplifying “BIPOC talent and voices in podcasting and beyond.” They host regular networking events, offer opportunities for job mentorship, and so much more. After reading their spotlight blog, we encourage you to follow them on Instagram and X.

What is the history of your organization, and what is its mission?

BIPOC Podcast Creators was founded in 2021 with the mission to amplify the voices of Black, Indigenous, and people of color in podcasting and beyond. Our goal at BIPOC Podcast Creators is to connect and empower this community of podcast creators who are ready to go beyond the 101 and grow into the world of podcasting.

How do you support members of the creative community, and how can a creator get involved with your organization? 

The BIPOC Podcast Creators community brings together Black, Indigenous and other people of color who are making moves across the podcasting and digital space. Each year, we offer our Creators ample networking opportunities, skill-building workshops, access to experts, industry insights, and opportunities for mentorship. Plus discounts on various services to help them achieve their podcasting dreams. Creators can join our community via our website or on our Facebook group. And they can learn more about our community here: https://www.bipocpodcastcreators.com/bipoc-community

What inspired your organization to become a Copyright Alliance Community Partner? 

BIPOC Podcast Creators is thrilled to partner with the Copyright Alliance as its first Community Partner, as it presents a unique opportunity for us to help underrepresented creators protect their works through copyright as they strive to grow their businesses. We believe that this collaboration will not only benefit individual creators but also contribute to a more diverse and inclusive podcast industry, where BIPOC voices are not only heard but also valued and protected.

How have copyright and related issues affected your organization and its creator base?

We believe that in this age of rapid content generation, it is more important than ever for BIPOC communities to protect their worth and their work. That is why we look forward to doing more webinars and events that center around protecting our work and using AI tools in an ethical way. 

What is one thing you wish creators understood more clearly about copyright?

That it is not the same as trademarking. Oftentimes people get the two terms confused. 

What advice would you give aspiring creators just starting out and unsure of how to protect their work? 

To check out our webinars and the free tools offered on the Copyright Alliance’s website. 

What are some current debates or issues surrounding copyright law that your organization is paying attention to, and what is your stance on them? 

Our community is very concerned about the use of content generated by BIPOC creators using generative AI tools like ChatGPT. We are also very focused on how we could take stake in the building of AI tools in order to make them more diverse, ethical, and inclusive. 

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If you aren’t already a member of the Copyright Alliance, you can join today by completing our Individual Creator Members membership form! Members gain access to monthly newsletters, educational webinars, and so much more — all for free!

Today, we turn the spotlight over to one of our Community Partners, the Undocumented Filmmakers Collective. The Undocumented Filmmakers Collective is a nonprofit that “tackles the systemic inequities that undocumented immigrants face in the field of filmmaking.” After reading their spotlight blog, we encourage you to follow them on Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

What is the history of your organization, and what is its mission?

Films about undocumented immigrants have become part of the mainstream media landscape. However, opportunities for undocumented filmmakers continue to be sparse due to perceived restrictions around our immigration status. This challenge manifests itself mainly through the following systemic barriers: 

• Abundance of films about undocumented community that often don’t hire undocumented filmmakers. 
• Lack of understanding within film industry about their ability to support the livelihoods of undocumented folks. 
• Lack of access to mentorship/professional development pipelines for undocumented filmmakers.
• Restrictions in grant applications due to immigration status.

While undocumented filmmakers have found ways to navigate these challenges by producing their own low- to no-budget films, the pipeline to provide mentorship and resources for these artists is important so that undocumented artists can thrive by pursuing their calling in life regardless of the confines of their status. 

Building upon the media justice organizing of other undocumented leaders, the Undocumented Filmmakers Collective tackles the systemic inequities that undocumented immigrants face in the field of filmmaking, by centering the expertise of undocumented people not only as sources of stories but more importantly as creators, artists, and primary audiences.

With the growing popularity of streaming and entertainment services looking towards the various faces of “inclusivity,” now more than ever is the time to assert creative autonomy for undocumented creatives both on and off-screen. The distinct problem isn’t the lack of POC, immigrant, or undocumented creatives in the field, but rather the lack of initiative from studios to collaborate and integrate such creators to participate in the development of creative entertainment.

How do you support members of the creative community, and how can a creator get involved with your organization? 

We support creators who are currently and formerly undocumented at any point of their creative career. We support members in providing access to film festival opportunities, speaking engagements, artistic development opportunities, showcasing member work, and community building events. A creator who identifies as part of our community can join here.

Members of the creative community who do not have the shared immigrant experience can still support our organization by becoming an ally. By becoming an ally you are empowering and fostering the growth of an individual, both as an artist and as a professional.Representation matters in front and behind the camera. This is your opportunity to connect and work with UNDOCUMENTED artists; from actors to editors to creative producers, our community has them all. You can learn how to lawfully work with any person regardless of their immigration status as well as have access to workshops and events.  

What inspired your organization to become a Copyright Alliance community partner?

The Copyright Alliance’s values to uplift and represent the interests of artists is inspiring. This shared value and the work around advocacy and inclusion that Copyright Alliance moves forward is a new and refreshing take on how artists in our community can sustain, value, preserve and protect their work and career. 

How have copyright and related issues affected your organization and its creator base?

Quite often, our community is viewed as a source of poor labor and our work is not regarded with high value. Therefore, extractive practices are quite prevalent. Our organization is fairly new, we have only existed for three years, but we have run into issues around protecting our work and our community of artists from predatory practices that industries and people initiate toward our community. We believe that with tools and help from organizations like the Copyright Alliance, we are able to obtain tools and access to information needed to make informed decisions on how to protect ourselves, such as through registering works for copyright.

What is one thing you wish creators understood more clearly about copyright?

I wish creators understood more about how copyright is a necessary part of the artistic process and how powerful it is to protect their work. There is an overwhelmingness to even the word copyright and I think it has to do with our community’s lack of access and knowledge around it. I wish more arts organizations, fellowships, schools, and mentors spoke more about this process so it can be a priority in creator’s work.

What advice would you give aspiring creators just starting out and unsure of how to protect their work?

The advice I would give to an aspiring creator who is just starting out and unsure how to protect their work is to write down a list of reasons why you need to protect your work and scenarios that worry you and then write another list asking yourself why you shouldn’t protect your work. If protecting your work outweighs not protecting your work, use those scenarios and concerns to research and ask questions of other artists, mentors, professors, or your community. If money is the biggest obstacle for you, which it often is, you can apply for scholarships or grants and factor copyright as a line item in your application. Make it a practice to think about protecting your work so you can make it a part of your practice and fundraising initiatives. 

What are some current debates or issues surrounding copyright law that your organization is paying attention to, and what is your stance on them?

Currently, I am paying attention to how copyright laws are holding up in the metaverse and in AI. I am weary of digital interventions that do not honor an artist’s reproduction and distribution rights. Until the metaverse and AI platforms are able to provide creditable compensation, value, and credit to artists that they are extracting from, I remain cautious and find copyright to be absolutely necessary to protect us from these platforms that are emerging.

What are some common misconceptions that creators have about copyright, and how does your organization address them?

There is a lot of confusion between copyright, licensing, and the overall benefits of protecting your work. There is also a misconception that copyright and licensing can only benefit U.S. citizens. Our organization is committed to obtaining more information and demystifying the process for our community.

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If you aren’t already a member of the Copyright Alliance, you can join today by completing our Individual Creator Members membership form! Members gain access to monthly newsletters, educational webinars, and so much more — all for free!

Today, we turn the spotlight over to one of our Community Partners, the Sphinx Organization. The Sphinx Organization is a nonprofit that works to address the underrepresentation of people of color in classical music. After reading their spotlight blog, we encourage you to follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

What is the history of your organization, and what is its mission?

The Sphinx Organization was founded to address the underrepresentation of people of color in classical music. Our mission is to transform lives through the power of diversity in the arts. We aim to build a more inclusive environment in classical music for Black and Latino musicians by providing educational and artistic opportunities, supporting their career development, and elevating their contributions to the community.

How do you support members of the creative community, and how can a creator get involved with your organization? 

Sphinx supports members of the creative community through a variety of programs, including competitions, educational initiatives, scholarships, and performance opportunities. Creators can get involved by participating in these programs, attending events, or applying for various openings that we regularly post on our website and social media channels. We welcome a diverse array of talents seeking to make their mark in the world of classical music.

What inspired your organization to become a Copyright Alliance community partner?

Becoming a Copyright Alliance Community Partner was inspired by our commitment to safeguarding the creative works of underrepresented communities. We recognize that copyright protection is crucial in maintaining artistic integrity, encouraging creativity, and ensuring economic sustainability for creators. This partnership amplifies our advocacy for the rights of creators in the classical music realm.

How have copyright and related issues affected your organization and its creator base?

Copyright issues significantly impact our organization and its creators, primarily when it comes to fair compensation and recognition. Unauthorized use of recorded performances, compositions, and sheet music undermines our artists’ rights and devalues their contributions. We continually strive to educate our community on these matters and advocate for stronger protections.

What is one thing you wish creators understood more clearly about copyright?

We wish creators understood that copyright is automatically in force upon the creation of their work. It’s not just a legal framework but an essential asset that they own, which can provide ongoing recognition and financial returns. Understanding copyright is about recognizing the value of one’s creative expression.

What advice would you give aspiring creators just starting out and unsure of how to protect their work?

For those starting out, we advise documenting your creative process, formally registering your works with the Copyright Office, and understanding the basics of copyright law. Don’t hesitate to seek legal advice to ensure your work is adequately protected and to explore all avenues for your creations, from licensing agreements to collaborative contracts.

What are some current debates or issues surrounding copyright law that your organization is paying attention to, and what is your stance on them?

We’re closely following discussions around digital transmission and fair use, especially concerning online platforms and educational institutions. Our stance is that while we appreciate the accessibility the internet provides, it should not come at the expense of creators’ rights. We advocate for policies that balance technological advances with robust copyright protection.

What are some common misconceptions that creators have about copyright, and how does your organization address them?

One common misconception is that if a piece of music is available online, it’s free to use or that attribution alone is enough without proper licensing. We address these through educational outreach, explaining the nuances of copyright law, and providing resources for our community to protect their works and understand their rights fully.

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If you aren’t already a member of the Copyright Alliance, you can join today by completing our Individual Creator Members membership form! Members gain access to monthly newsletters, educational webinars, and so much more — all for free!