Legal assistance, education, and consulting for artists and art organizations since 2012
Lectures
How to Handle Taxes and Insurance in Artistic Practice
October 21, 2024, at 6 PM
Center for Contemporary Art Prague – Café Space. A seminar for all practicing artists, organized by Fair Art and the Arts and Theatre Institute as part of the Czech Mobility.Info project, in collaboration with CSU Prague. Experienced tax consultant, lecturer, and author of professional publications and articles, Magdaléna Vyškovská, guided participants through the complex issues of tax and insurance obligations arising from the sale of their artworks.
Publication
Newly available revised edition of the publication Law and the Art World: Basic Concepts and Questions of Intellectual Property Law for Art School Students, prepared by Fair Art in collaboration with the Academy of Arts, Architecture & Design in Prague and the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague.
Legal Advisory
The Legal Advisory Service is the Czech counterpart of the decades-long successful program run by our partner organization, Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts in New York. Its goal is to enhance the quality and accessibility of legal assistance for the contemporary art scene. It offers artists a unique opportunity to easily and affordably entrust their legal matters to highly skilled attorneys who not only possess deep legal expertise but also have a strong connection to the arts.
Lectures
Our program of lectures and courses is primarily designed for students and graduates of fine art schools. Its main goal is to provide artists with essential legal knowledge and to highlight potential challenges related to their artistic practice – skills that are indispensable for an artist’s professional life and career.
We strive to ensure that visual artists are legally prepared for working within the art world. Our lectures and courses not only help prevent legal issues and disputes but also contribute in the long run to improving legal relationships within the artistic sphere.
The foundation of our educational activities consists of copyright law courses tailored to the specific needs of visual artists – painters, sculptors, designers, and other artistic professionals. Each course is designed to address the real-life challenges that artists encounter in their practice.
Galerie
Where We Have Lectured in the Past
As part of the development of our educational program, in recent years we have established collaborations with leading art universities, including the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague (AVU), the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts (FAMU), the Academy of Arts, Architecture & Design in Prague (VŠUP), and the Faculty of Fine Arts in Brno (FaVU).
Beyond the academic sphere, we also organize specialized lectures each year for the general public and professionals who encounter legal issues related to art in their practice. Our focus extends beyond general topics to specific issues such as artistic appropriation and its legal implications.
Universities and Educational Institutions
- Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, Film and TV School (FAMU)
- Academy of Fine Arts in Prague (AVU)
- Anglo-American University in Prague (AAU)
- Church Grammar School in Pilsen
- Masaryk University, Faculty of Law (PrF MU)
- Prague College
- University of Hradec Králové, Faculty of Education (PdF UHK)
- Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, Faculty of Art and Design (FUD UJEP)
- Charles University, Faculty of Law (PF UK)
- University of Pardubice, Faculty of Restoration (FR UPCE)
- Institute of Art History of the Czech Academy of Sciences (UDU AV ČR)
- Central Municipal Library of Prague
- Academy of Arts, Architecture & Design in Prague (UMPRUM)
- Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava (VŠVU)
- Brno University of Technology, Faculty of Fine Arts (FaVU VUT)
- Higher Vocational School of Graphic Arts and Secondary School of Graphic Arts in Prague
- University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, Faculty of Philosophy (FF ZCU)
Artistic and Other Organizations
- 4 + 4 in Motion
- Aeroškola
- Atlas Café
- Bitcoin Coffee
- Café Liberté
- Center for Contemporary Art Prague
- DOX – Center for Contemporary Art
- Czechmobility
- Fait Gallery Brno
- Festival Design Ústí
- Fotoškoda
- Prague City Gallery (GHMP)
- Galerie Rudolfinum
- Arts and Theatre Institute (IDU)
- Kinolab Film Festival
- International Conference IAA Europe – International Association of Art, Pilsen
- International Conference The State of Fine Art – International Symposium, Brussels
- Moravian Gallery in Brno
- Olomouc Museum of Art
- NIPOS
- Nová Galerie Prague
- Paralelní Polis
- PLATO Ostrava
- Prague School of Photography
- Prague Cultural Center (PKC)
- THINK TANK: Taboo and Censorship in Contemporary Art, Pardubice
Publication
Second Revised Edition of the Publication Law and the Art World
The second revised edition of the brochure Law and the Art World: Basic Concepts and Questions of Intellectual Property Law for Art School Students has been published. This edition was prepared by Fair Art in collaboration with the Academy of Arts, Architecture & Design in Prague and the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague.
The new edition replaces the 2016 version, which could no longer fully reflect the current developments in the fields of art and law. It also incorporates extensive new knowledge and experience gained by Fair Art experts over the past seven years, during which they have organized more than 300 lectures, courses, and seminars.
Public distribution of the publication is expected in the fall of 2024, with further details to be updated accordingly.
Expert Text: Michal Adamovský, Iva Javorská, Lukáš Holub
Graphic Design: Kateřina Pravdová
Illustrations: Vladimír Kokolia
Product Photography of the Publication: Apoléna Typltová
Legal Advisory
Law for Artists and Cultural Organizations – Accessible and Professional
The Fair Art Legal Advisory Service is the Czech counterpart of the successful Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts program in New York, aiming to make high-quality and efficient legal assistance accessible to the art scene. It provides artists and art organizations with the opportunity to consult legal experts specializing in copyright law and other relevant legal areas – either completely free of charge (pro bono) or under preferential conditions.
How Does the Legal Advisory Service Work?
The advisory system is tailored to the specific legal environment in the Czech Republic, ensuring that not only individual artists but also galleries, cultural institutions, museums, schools, and nonprofit organizations receive legal support. Fair Art facilitates connections with renowned attorneys who possess both legal expertise and a deep understanding of the artistic field.
Our legal advisory service guarantees that:
- Legal assistance is provided exclusively by qualified attorneys – in compliance with the law on advocacy, eliminating the risk of unqualified advice.
- Each case is processed efficiently – Fair Art prepares the necessary documentation, saving lawyers’ time and reducing costs for clients.
- Support is accessible to a wide range of artists and organizations, either free of charge or at a discounted rate.
Two Types of Legal Assistance
- Pro Bono Legal Assistance
- Available for individuals with an annual income of up to 240,000 CZK before taxation and for nonprofit organizations.
- Covers simpler legal matters such as contract reviews and legal consultations.
- Discounted Legal Assistance
- Designed for clients who do not qualify for pro bono services or require more comprehensive legal support (e.g., representation in disputes, full contract drafting).
- Includes full legal services at a preferential rate for Fair Art clients.
The art world is diverse, and each case is assessed individually. Clients are informed as soon as possible about which category they fall into.
How to Request Legal Assistance?
- Every Monday and Wednesday from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Process:
- Contact us by phone or email. We will assess your issue and, if necessary, arrange an in-person meeting.
- We will match you with a lawyer who specializes in your specific situation and artistic field.
- After consulting with the lawyer, we will prepare the necessary documentation for an efficient resolution.
- Further communication takes place directly between you and the lawyer, who can also provide legal representation if needed (e.g., dispute resolution).
About Us
Michal Adamovský
Director of Fair Art. A graduate of the doctoral program at FAMU, where he explored the intersection of art and copyright law through an interdisciplinary dissertation focusing on appropriation and the conflicts and synergies in the use of photographic works by others. He defended his doctoral degree at FAMU in 2023, building on his previous studies in law at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen (2002–2007) and photography at FAMU under Viktor Kolář and Štěpánka Šimlová (2008–2014).
He has participated in creative and research residencies at Atelier de Visu in Marseille (under Antoine de Agatha, Magnum Photos), Musée de l’Elysée in Lausanne, the MOMA Library and ICP in New York, Musrara School of Photography in Jerusalem, and the Technical University in Graz.
He has lectured on photography and copyright law at UMPRUM, AVU, the Institute of Art History of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Galerie Rudolfinum, Fait Gallery, and law faculties at Charles University, Masaryk University, and many other institutions. He has contributed to academic publications, including the catalog for the exhibition Original? The Art of Imitating Art at the Gallery of Modern Art in Hradec Králové (2022), and co-authored the practical study guide Law and the Art World.
His artistic work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions at GKK Gallery, Klatovy / Klenová Gallery, Fiducia Photography Gallery, Galerie Fotografic, Langhans Gallery, DOX – Center for Contemporary Art, the National Technical Library, the Czech Cultural Center in Milan, Whitepoint Gallery in New Jersey, and many others. His works are held in both public and private collections.
He has been a member of Fair Art since its very foundation.
Ondřej Stupal
Founder and initiator of Fair Art. Since 2012, he has been the director of the Center for Contemporary Art Prague. Between 2004 and 2011, he served as the director of the Center for Contemporary Art FUTURA and Karlin Studios and was the initiator and co-founder of the FUTURA New York, Inc. project.
As a Fulbright Scholar, he participated in a curatorial residency at Residency Unlimited and Triangle Arts Association in New York. He has been a member of several art committees, including the NARS Foundation and Apexart in New York, the International Visegrad Fund in Bratislava, the Arts and Theatre Institute in Prague, and the Czech Ministry of Culture.
From 2015 to 2022, he was a member of the board of trustees of the Jindřich Chalupecký Society.
Collaborating Attorneys
As part of the Legal Advisory Project, which is based on the experience of our partner organization, Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts of New York, we collaborate with a network of attorneys and law firms that provide legal assistance to Fair Art clients. In many cases, this support is offered on a pro bono basis, meaning without any financial compensation.
Currently, our collaborating attorneys include:
- Josef Aujezdský, Mašek, Kočí, Aujezdský Law Firm
- Martina Bacíková – Independent Attorney
- Bird & Bird, Law Firm
- Frank Bold, Law Firm
- Edita Bolková, Independent Attorney
- Hana Císlerová, JŠK Law Firm
- Lukas Holub, Bird & Bird Law Firm
- Helena Chaloupková, JUDr. Heleny Chaloupkové Law Firm
- Tereza Jandáčková, Novalia Law Firm
- B.Right Law Firm
- Tomáš Kaspřík, Bernard Legal Law Firm
- Štěpán Kubát, Independent Attorney
- David Kučera, BBH Law Firm
- Petr Kuhn, BADOKH - Kuhn Dostál Law Firm
- Marek Martinka, MAAARS Law Firm
- Ondřej Najman, Skils Law Firm
- Petr Ostrouchov, Vyskočil Krošlák and Co. Law Firm
- Preegal, Law Firm
- Bára Piskačová, Independent Attorney
- Radomír Pivoda, Radomír Pivoda Law Firm
- Markéta Rylková, Independent Attorney
- Jan Stejskal, White & Case Law Firm
- Zuzana Stuchlíková, Stuchlíková and Co. Law Firm
- Zdeněk Tomíček, Tomíček Legal
- František Vyskočil, Vyskočil Krošlák & Co. Legal Firm
We are continuously looking for new partners among attorneys who are passionate about helping in the field of contemporary visual art and contributing to the improvement of Fair Art’s services. If you believe our work is worth supporting and would like to collaborate with us, or if you know attorneys who might be interested in working with us, feel free to contact us at info@fairart.cz.
Contact
- Fair Art, z. s.
- A registered association listed in the Commercial Register at the Municipal Court in Prague, file no. L 25081.
- Dukelských hrdinů 500/25a
- 170 00 Praha 7
- (located in the building of the Foundation for Contemporary Art Prague)
- info@fairart.cz
- +420 799 500 304
- www.fairart.cz
- ID: 01253379
Partners and Supporters
Fair Art projects are carried out with grant support from the City of Prague, the GESTOR Endowment Fund for Contemporary Art and GESTOR – Copyright Protection Association, the State Cultural Fund of the Czech Republic, and Art District / Prague 7 Municipal District.
The project partner is Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts.
