n e w s

• Georgia Lawyers for the Arts (GLA) is a nonprofit organization, comprised of a network of more than 500 volunteer and member attorneys, that provides legal assistance and educational programming to artists and arts organizations in Georgia.

• Lisa Kincheloe took a tremendous pay cut to take the position of executive director of GLA. She was earning $110,000 at the Atlanta law firm Arnall Golden Gregory LLP, and left to make $50,000 as executive director of GLA. She succeeded previous executive director Hank Kimmel in July 2001. Lisa is the group's one full-time staff member, operating out of a closet-sized office in City Hall East.

• “After two and half years, I still get excited about going to work in the morning and I drive home each night feeling fulfilled and stimulated by the days challenges,” said Lisa. “I love working with creative types and assisting them in protecting their rights and revenues derived from their creative endeavors. GLA is an incredibly valuable resource for the arts community in Georgia and I am so proud of the time, energy and dedication of our staff, board and 600 volunteer attorneys. Every day artists tell me they don't know what they would do without GLA - I hope they never have to.”     

• GLA will provide more than $750,000 of free legal services to the arts community this year.

• “Volunteer Lawyers has been very useful to us at WRFG,” said Ebon Dooley, Broadcast Director. “We were stuck with a complicated contract, and were not sure what to do. The lawyer GLA provided us with has gone out of his way; with his time devoted to our case and the advice he has given us. The case is not yet resolved, but I am confident that he has given us the best possible legal advice and service, beyond what we expected even if we had retained a lawyer.”

• In addition to providing legal services to a much-needed population, GLA conducts 50-60 educational seminars and workshops each year on numerous legal and business-related topics. The nonprofit organization was created in June 2001 after a merger between Georgia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts and the SEAL Center (Southern Entertainment and Art Law).

• GLA's newest endeavor is The Artist's Advocate , a monthly television show highlighting legal issues relevant to artists and arts organizations, hosted by Lisa Kincheloe. Upcoming shows will deal with First Amendment issues, Internet law and other legal issues facing filmmakers, actors, painters and photographers. The Artist's Advocate is shown the fourth Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. on People TV, Cable Channel 24.