Featured Photo for VLAA Seeks Associate Director

VLAA Seeks Associate Director

Posted Mar 29, 2024 | News & Events,

We are seeking a part-time Associate Director whose primary responsibilities are managing our referral service and college outreach program. The Associate Director reports to the Executive Director. Our three-person staff also includes a part-time Community Engagement Manager. Compensation $23 per hour HoursApproximately 12-15 flexible hours per week, which may...

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AI Shakespeare

Posted Mar 22, 2024 | News & Events,

To prepare for the artificial intelligence (AI) and copyright program, which we co-presented at the High Low on March 21, we asked free ChatGPT to generate Shakespeare sonnets about artists in St. Louis who are worried about AI co-opting their work. We selected this one from among 18 choices...

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Meet Shayba Diaz Muhammad

Posted Feb 22, 2024 | News & Events,

We are pleased to announce that Shayba Diaz Muhammad is our new part-time Community Engagement Manager. In this position, she will build awareness of our programs and services and will help implement our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility plan. Her email address is community@vlaa.org. Muhammad is a working artist...

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Grants to Support Arts Engagement and Learning

Posted Feb 14, 2024 | News & Events,

East St. Louis Community Arts Access, a re-granting program run by the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation (JJKF) with funding from the Illinois Arts Council (IAC), awards grants to local cultural organizations and nonprofits offering arts programming. Schools and individual artists are also eligible for funding. This grants program seeks to...

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Employee or Independent Contractor?

Posted Jan 16, 2024 | Legal Issues,

by Attorney Christian Misner, VLAA board member Big news alert! The U.S. Department of Labor just threw a curveball our way with a new rule dropping on March 11, 2024 – “Employee or Independent Contractor Classification Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).” Yeah, it’s a mouthful, but stick...

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2024 Tax Preparation Assistance

Posted Jan 15, 2024 | Financial Matters,

Our volunteer accountants aren’t available to prepare tax returns for our pro bono clients until May. As a courtesy, here are are some options to consider if you need assistance: STL Tax Counselors at the Salvation Army STL Tax Counselors are preparing tax returns (by appointment only) at the...

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Recordkeeping Resolutions

Posted Jan 02, 2024 | Financial Matters,

By Sue Greenberg, executive director As we begin 2024, here’s a suggestion that will pay off: Take deliberate control of your creative business by making a commitment to recordkeeping. A complete set of records will help you track your income, assets, and expenses. Additionally, your records (including how you...

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Sister Mary Reflections

Posted Dec 04, 2023 | News & Events,

by Sue Greenberg, executive director A vile diatribe against all things Catholic? Not this time. Stray Dog Theatre’s production of Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You is up and running without any public outrage. That was not the case when Theatre Project Company (TPC) produced Christopher Durang’s...

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The Art of Asserting a Parody Defense

Posted Sep 25, 2023 | Law Student Blog,

By Kim Ly, University of Michigan Law School, Juris Doctorate Candidate, 2025 From The Onion to memes to more recently, the movie, Bottoms, parodying occurs when you take other work and then build on top of it. Parodies can be humorous and poignant, or, neither, like the movie Meet...