Teen Art Law / Holiday Card Contest

Teen Art Law Workshops

The Arts & Business Council’s Teen Art Law program, sponsored by the Brown Rudnick Center for the Public Interest, provides inner-city high school students with an understanding of copyright, trademark and patent law. Students are made aware of the intellectual property law and concepts that govern the digital age in which they live through fun and lively presentations by VLA faculty. While the arts classes and after school programs of the Boston Public Schools have served as the target population for the Teen Art Law program, we are happy to discuss bringing this program to new audiences.

The VLA works with teachers at participating schools to design presentations appropriate for each student group level and tailored to the intellectual property issues affecting their particular form of artistic expression.

Music sessions, for example, focus on the intellectual property issues most commonly associated with music and the music industry. We introduce students to music vocabulary and intellectual property rights through the use of a hypothetical scenario and recordings of several actual songs that demonstrate the difference between an original composition, cover, sampling, parody and mash-up.

Visual art sessions introduce students to visual art related legal issues. We explore the complex world of original art, derivative works, and fair use laws through the Shepard Fairey case. This example provides an opportunity to understand the multiple perspectives involved, including the artist, the media, the photographer, and the museums.

For more information or to request a session at your school, contact Kimneeta Dhillon: kim@artsandbusinesscouncil.org

The 2012 Holiday Card Contest

Brown Rudnick and Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts of Massachusetts (VLA) strongly believe that the arts play an integral part in every student’s secondary education. Brown Rudnick and the VLA developed its Holiday Card Contest to provide students with an opportunity to develop and showcase their creativity. This contest is made possible through a generous grant from the Brown Rudnick Charitable Foundation Corp. and with support from the Brown Rudnick Center for the Public Interest.

View the 2011 Holiday Card Contest Winners!  Flickr >>

How to Enter: Any student currently enrolled in a Boston Public High School from grades 7-12 is eligible to enter. Just fill out the official entry form. Entry forms are available from your art teacher, or by clicking here. Submit your artwork to your teacher or send it directly to: Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, 249 A Street #14, Boston, MA 02210. All artwork must be received or postmarked by Friday, October 26.

Rules and Regulations: Your artwork should reflect the positive vibe of the season - unity, diversity, peace, freedom, winter, giving, etc. No religious themes, including Santa Claus, Christmas trees, Jewish stars, menorahs, ornaments, or similar objects, will be eligible. Please submit a two-dimensional piece of visual art (painting, drawings, photography, computer aided design, etc.). Minimum size: 5”x7” Maximum size: 8.5”x11”

Judging: The judging will take place the first week of November. A panel of judges will choose the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners, as well as several artistic merit winners. Winners will be announced in early November. The First Place student will have his/her artwork reproduced on a holiday card. All winning students will receive cash prizes and art supplies from Dick Blick Art Materials, along with a certificate of achievement. The class of the First Place student will receive a special class gift.