The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has dismissed Pulphus v. Ayers, the lawsuit challenging the removal of Untitled #1, a painting by St. Louis artist David Pulphus, from a U.S. Capitol high school student art exhibit. The unanimous three-judge decision did not address the First Amendment issues raised by the case. Instead, the November 30 ruling declared…
Our annual "thank you" holiday reception will be held in the MADE, 5127 Delmar, on Thursday, December 6, 5:30 to 7:00 PM. The free event will feature self-guided tours of the new makerspace and live music by Paul Niehaus IV. RSVP here About MADE MADE stands for Makers, Artists, Designers and Entrepreneurs. The new facility, which opens later this month, will…
Service organizations like the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) and VLAA understand that although most artists are running small businesses, too many are unfamiliar with business concepts that can help them move towards more sustainable careers. NYFA’s second edition of The Profitable Artist draws on the Brooklyn-based organization’s many years of top-notch professional development programs. Written for artists…
by Sue Greenberg “Please vote no on August 7.” On Monday, Jen Cody (above) and fellow cast members now appearing in The Muny’s production of Gypsy worked phone banks urging voters to defeat Proposition A. They believe, as I do, that weakened unions endanger our cultural ecosystem. Approval of Proposition A would make Missouri a “right-to-work” state. Under the misleadingly named…
VLAA’s Censored at the US Capitol: Pulphus v. Ayers and Its Implications, April 30, 2018 Good afternoon everyone and thank you for that kind welcome. First of all, I want to thank Sue Greenberg and the Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts for taking a stand in defense of David Pulphus and his 1st Amendment Right of self-expression. David…
Monday, May 14 at 4:00 PM 2.0 Hours of Missouri CLE or CPE Ethics Credit Hosted by Armstrong Teasdale, 7700 Forsyth in the Centene Plaza Building (free parking in the garage just west of the building) Ethics training can be fun! Professor Robert R. Kuehn's interactive program features movie clips (with popcorn) and a lively discussion of ethical dilemmas and the…
Brigid Flynn (left) and Liz Deichmann (right) saw an unmet need and created Midwest Artist Project Services (MAPS). Founded in 2011, their nonprofit, tax-exempt organization serves and empowers individual artists, collectives and emerging arts organizations by providing business consultation, fiscal sponsorship, professional development and vetted online resources. Unsung heroes, Brigid and Liz run this robust organization on a volunteer basis. St. Louis…
St. Louis Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts (VLAA) will host “Censored at the U.S. Capitol: Pulphus v. Ayers and Its Implications,” a free lecture by Attorney Mark Sableman (left) on Monday, April 30, at 5:30 PM. The program will be presented in the Arcade building auditorium, 810 Olive Street, Webster University’s downtown Gateway Campus. Pulphus v. Ayers involves…
Viewpoint censorship should not be allowed of art works properly accepted in an exhibition, according to a friend of the court brief submitted by 17 arts service and advocacy organizations, including St. Louis Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts (VLAA). The brief was filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, urging reversal of a…
With the passage of the most significant tax reform bill in decades, nonprofits want to know how the changes will impact charitable giving and individual taxpayers are asking: What will it mean for me and when? Here are a few quick answers compiled for our constituents: NONPROFITS • The charitable tax deduction has encouraged generations of Americans to contribute billions to tax-exempt…