Where Law and Theatre Connect

On November 5, 2024, three law students from the Faculty of Law’s Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts gave an in-person seminar to the University of Winnipeg’s “The Business of Theatre” Class.

The Business of Theatre course is given by the Department of Theatre and Film, at the University of Winnipeg, and consists of seminars that offer a basic vocabulary for career and project management appropriate for students pursuing careers in all disciplines of the theatre industry.

The law students’ presentation focused on various legal topics including negotiations, contracts, employment, intellectual property, and incorporation of not-for-profits. This presentation quickly turned into an engaged and interactive conversation amongst peers, as both the law students and theatre students had plenty of share on these various topics.

“Presenting to the Business of Theatre students was such a rewarding experience,” said Emily Palmer (3L) [BA)/2019]. “We had the opportunity to have a collaborative conversations about how the law can intersect with art and artistic productions. It was an opportunity to hear questions from the theatre students and to help provide a basic understanding of a variety of legal concepts, such as elements of copyright law, contracts, negotiation tactics, and business organization.” 

This was a great opportunity for both the students of the Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts and the business of theatre students to learn about how their futures might be shaped by one another.

“The students were highly engaged and asked thoughtful questions that led to great discussions,” said Skylar Ferbers (3L) [BComm(Hons)/2022]. “It was a mutually beneficial experience. Both us, as presenters, and the students left with valuable insights that will help us in our future careers.”

Palmer, Ferbers, and Carter Ross (3L) [BComm(Hons)/2022], presented to the class.

Emily Palmer (3L) [BA)/2019], Skylar Ferbers (3L) [BComm(Hons)/2022], and Carter Ross (3L) [BComm(Hons)/2022], presenting to the UofW Business of Theatre class.

This opportunity would not have been possible without Hope McIntyre, the University of Winnipeg Professor of “The Business of Theatre” class. As the founding Artistic Director of Sarasvàti Productions, and with a life-time involvement in theatre she is no stranger to the intersection of law and theatre, and understands the importance of equipping artists with the language to navigate legal topics, which is also aligns with one of the goals of the Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts.

“The students found it incredibly valuable. They were also so grateful that such an important support service exists for artists. They will certainly be spreading the word to their peers and colleagues,” said McIntyre.

The discussion around intellectual property was particularly interesting because the field is always changing. Artists are constantly creating new pieces and thinking of novel ideas, so having the knowledge to protect their work is crucial to success in the field.

“The presentation and discussion provided invaluable insight on how intellectual property truly is. The students of the class had plenty of questions that I would have never figured were important without this opportunity. This was so beneficial for both sides and I am very happy I was able to partake in it,” said Ross.

Law students working at the Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts look forward to doing similar events in the future. The chance for the Clinic’s students to provide public legal education to artists while gaining hands-on experience is one of the reasons the Clinic was created.

Story submitted by Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts.