We provide presenters and panelists for programs sponsored by professional organizations and community groups.
Our experts are available to address copyright, contracts, taxes and other legal and accounting topics. They are engaging presenters who enjoy interacting with creatives. Upstart, our college outreach program, sends teaching artists, lawyers and accountants to classrooms through the bi-state region.
House Calls
We also offer hands-on training directly to arts organization boards during their regular meetings. This free training program includes a 20-minute presentation by a volunteer or VLAA staff member, ten minutes for questions and easy-to-understand handouts. Organizations select the date, time and location. Training options include:
To book a speaker, please contact us or call (314) 863-6930
Celebrating the Freedom to Read
On September 22, 2022, the Kranzberg Arts Foundation’s weekly High Noon at the High Low lecture series highlighted Banned Books Week with Maxi Glamour and Mark Sableman. Glamour, who has participated in several public library drag queen story hour events, began the program by reading What Riley Wore by Elena K. Arnold, a sweet and timely picture book. Then Sableman, Thompson Coburn, discussed notable freedom of artistic expression cases and Missouri’s new book ban law. VLAA is co-presented the free midday program.
Of course, no one is celebrating banned books — except those banning books! The annual weeklong event celebrates the freedom to read. It spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. It brings together the entire book community — librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.
Photo Credit: Phillip Hamer