This September, art students at Stellenbosch University (SU) can expect to receive free legal information pertaining to the protection of their artworks.
This was according to Genevieve Rosseau, masters of law student at SU and chairperson of the Stellenbosch Art Law Clinic (SALC).
The SALC aims to launch its free legal information initiative in September following two years of preparation.
Elke Mostert (left), marketing manager for Stellenbosch Art Law Clinic (SALC), and Genevieve Rosseau (right), chairperson of SALC. SALC is a student-run legal information provider for art students at Stellenbosch University. The organisation is providing free legal services to art students in an attempt to equip artists with the necessary legal knowledge to defend their original work once they enter the industry, according to Rosseau. PHOTO: Talia Kincaid
Rousseau has been affiliated with the clinic since its conception in October 2020.
The aim of the clinic is to provide pro-bono legal information to art students at the university, said Rosseau.
SALC is a student initiative established by law students at SU in collaboration with the University of Münster that was inspired by lectures provided ny a lecturer from the university, explained Rosseau.
“The students [who attended the guest lectures] loved the idea of providing free legal information [to art students]”, because many of them were passionate about art as a hobby separate to their studies, said Rosseau.
SALC’s model is based on a similar project at the University of Münster where services are provided in the form of the provision of legal information, lectures, talks, and informative booklets, said Rosseau.
The lectures are useful as art students are often unaware that their creative works are protected under intellectual property law and that they are entitled to financial gains if their work is distributed or copied without attribution, explained Cailin Aylward, a bachelor of arts in visual arts student at SU, who has attended sessions held by the SALC.
Art law encompasses a variety of tenets, according to Genevieve Rosseau, chairperson of the Stellenbosch Art Law Clinic, a student-run legal information provider for art students at Stellenbosch University. Students can come to SALC to access the basics of art law, said Mostert. INFOGRAPHIC: Talia Kincaid
The clinic is completely self-funded and is currently not affiliated with SU as it is yet to be registered as an official society, said Elke Mostert, marketing manager for SALC, and postgraduate law student at SU.
Avoiding exploitation
The initiative serves to equip those who are entering the creative industry with the necessary knowledge to understand the basics of South African art law, said Rosseau.
“Young artists are exploited so much in the industry,” she said.
Bridging art and law
During the September initiative, an informative booklet pertaining to the “basics of art law” will be published, said Rosseau.
The book, which will be accessible as both a hard copy and digital e-book on their website, will be based on the University of Münster’s version, she said.
Art students are often unaware of the legal terminology that could be used against them once they enter the industry, according to Genevieve Rosseau, masters in law student and chairperson of Stellenbosch Art Law Clinic (SALC) – a student-run initiative made up of Stellenbosch University law students that aims to provide free legal information to art students.
Rosseau and Elke Mostert, chairperson of SALC, talk about why they believe access to the information is so important. The clinic’s volunteers consist of art and music enthusiasts who are really passionate about access to legal services within the art world, said Rosseau. AUDIO: Talia Kincaid
A series of art law lectures, in collaboration with the visual arts department at SU, Gallery University Stellenbosch and the Rupert Museum, have been conducted by the clinic, said Rosseau.
The students do the research and run the lectures, according to Rosseau.