The meeting included an update on the Upham's Corner Arts and Innovation District process, proposed library, and RFPs. Interpretation services were

This meeting was jointly hosted by the City, our community partners DSNI/DNI, and the Upham's Corner Working Advisory Group (WAG).

Join us to learn more about Commercial Leasing: Working with Your Landlord, Current Challenges and Avoiding Pitfalls

Topics covered include:

• Questions to ask yourself before adopting a new tool
• Creating systems and standard operating procedures
• Best practices and tools for task management and collaboration
• How to use tools to improve your marketing
• Categories of tools to discuss (social media, email marketing, Customer relationship management (CRM), productivity, integration, communication)

We will explore how to take who you are and what you stand for and make it part of your branding, advertising, website, and more. Learn strategy and tactics to help you stand out!

This workshop will also provide an overview of contract principles and review the elements of contracts that can be designed to meet your needs and those of your clients.  

Content Expert: James Grace, Esq. – Executive Director, Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston

Jim Grace is the Executive Director of the Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston. He was the Executive Director of the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts of MA from 1998 until 2008, when it merged with the A&BC. Jim has extensive experience working with artists and arts organizations in the areas of public art and social practice art projects, copyright, nonprofit incorporation and mergers, nonprofit boards and real estate development of creative spaces. Jim was an adjunct professor for BU’s Masters in Arts Admin Program for five years where he co-taught a course on legal issues in arts administration. Currently, Jim teaches workshops locally and nationally on a variety of legal and artist professional development topics. He serves on the boards of the Brookline Community Foundation and the AIR Institute (in DC) as well as the Advisory Board of Brain Arts Org and is a founding board member of the Arts Services Coalition and the Fort Point Cultural Coalition. He previously served on the board of Philanthropy Massachusetts and the Private Sector Council of Americans for the Arts. Jim is also a working author, book editor, and published attorney.

Content Expert: Lucas Blackadar, Esq. – Director of Legal Services, Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston

Luke Blackadar manages the Arts & Business Council’s Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts and Patent Pro Bono programs. An attorney and visual artist, Luke counsels start- up, small, and creative businesses on trademark, copyright, nonprofit, and for-profit business matters. Luke also trains law students in the practice of business law, through the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts legal internship, and as an adjunct professor of law at Roger Williams University, where he teaches Contract Drafting & Transactional Lawyering. Prior to joining the Arts & Business Council, Luke was a professional liability defense attorney, representing lawyers, medical professionals, and design professionals in malpractice lawsuits.

 In this workshop, attendees will get an introduction to copyright law fundamentals:

• What exactly does copyright protect?
• What rights does copyright give me as a creator?
• How do I obtain a copyright?
• What is copyright infringement?
• How do I protect my work using copyright?

We will also give particular attention to unique challenges presented by musical works, including the various music licenses.

Content Expert: Lucas Blackadar, Esq. – Director of Legal Services, Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston

Luke Blackadar manages the Arts & Business Council’s Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts and Patent Pro Bono programs. An attorney and visual artist, Luke counsels start- up, small, and creative businesses on trademark, copyright, nonprofit, and for-profit business matters. Luke also trains law students in the practice of business law, through the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts legal internship, and as adjunct professor of law at Roger Williams University, where he teacher Contract Drafting & Transactional Lawyering. Prior to joining the Arts & Business Council, Luke was a professional liability defense attorney, representing lawyers, medical professionals, and design professionals in malpractice lawsuits.

Content Expert: Peter Cobb

Peter Cobb is a Senior Advisor at the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), and a strategic and fundraising consultant with an extensive background in the worlds of art, organizational strategy and development, and law. He is also the co-editor of The Profitable Artist (Allworth Press, 2011, 2018). Outside of his work with NYFA, Peter is an attorney and tax researcher who is getting his LLM in Taxation from Boston University School of Law. He is also a jazz saxophonist who performs nationally and internationally, and—during COVID-times -- streaming from his home.