Beyond the Studio: Ink on Paper: A Practical Guide to Artists' Contracts

Date: Monday, November 17
Time: 6:00 PM —8:00 PM
Location: McColl Center
Cost: $20
REGISTER HERE

Navigating the legal landscape of an art career can feel overwhelming, but understanding contracts doesn't have to be. In this essential workshop, art lawyer Katherine de Vos Devine demystifies the contract process, empowering artists with practical knowledge to protect their work, secure fair compensation, and build sustainable creative practices.
This hands-on session covers the foundational agreements every working artist encounters: commission contracts, consignment agreements, licensing deals, and collaboration arrangements. Participants will learn to identify key contract terms, recognize red flags, and understand their rights and obligations before signing. Through real-world examples and case studies drawn from Katherine's extensive experience representing artists, attendees will discover how to negotiate favorable terms and avoid common pitfalls that can derail creative projects.
The workshop addresses critical questions: What should every commission agreement include? How do consignment terms affect your bottom line? When do you need written agreements versus verbal understandings? What happens when contracts go wrong? Katherine will share practical strategies for contract review, negotiation tactics that work, and essential clauses that protect intellectual property rights.
This session balances legal accuracy with accessible language, ensuring participants leave with actionable knowledge rather than legal jargon. Whether you're negotiating your first major commission, considering gallery representation, or collaborating with other creatives, this workshop provides the contract literacy essential for professional success.
Attendees will receive practical tools including contract checklists, negotiation tips, and resources for ongoing legal support. By workshop's end, participants will approach contracts with confidence, viewing them not as obstacles but as professional tools that support their artistic vision and financial security. No legal background required—just bring your questions and readiness to protect your creative future.

About the Speaker:
Katherine de Vos Devine approaches complex legal challenges with the quiet precision of a strategist and the innovative thinking of an artist. As the visionary founder of Implement Legal, she creates nimble solutions that protect and empower artists, writers, musicians, dancers, and creative entrepreneurs.
With both a PhD and law degree from Duke University, Katherine combines analytical rigor with creative insight. She's a sought-after speaker on copyright, fair use, and artists' rights, serving as co-chair of the CAA Committee on Intellectual Property and teaching Art and Entertainment Law at Queens University. Her expertise has taken her to Harvard, Yale, UC Berkeley, and Art Basel.
Katherine's unassuming approach conceals a sharp intellect honed through diverse experience—from executive roles at arts nonprofits to working with private foundations at Cadwalader, Wickersham and Taft LLP, and even assisting renowned chef David Bouley with his Michelin-starred restaurant empire. This unconventional background fuels her ability to see opportunities others miss.
Katherine's strategic insights are sharpened by solitary pursuits—early morning espresso rituals, long walks in wooded silence, and books that illuminate the patterns underlying human creativity.