TALA | Newsletter | March 2009

1540 Sul Ross Houston, Texas 77006 (713) 526-4876 info@talarts.org http://www.talarts.org

 	  Topics in this Newsletter include, Menil Arts Community Open House, Legal and Accounting Open House at Spacetaker May 16, 
 	  TALA Volunteer Information Session, and Information on Artist Hobby Loss

The Menil Arts Community Open House is a FREE afternoon of music, film, readings, and visual arts hosted by the nonprofit organizations in the Menil Area. Planned activities include a scavenger hunt, various family friendly activities at each nonprofit office, and a screening from 8-9 of Texas Short Films in the Aurora Picture Show backyard. Please see the flyer below for more details as well as the upcoming April Newsletter.

The TALA/Spacetaker open house clinics provide individual artists and representatives of arts-related not-for-profit corporations an opportunity to consult with TALA law and accounting volunteers on legal and accounting issues. Walk-ups are welcome, but preference is given to those who make an appointment for a consultation. The date of the next clinic is:

Saturday, May 16, 2009
2:30 pm to 4:30pm

The open houses will take place at Spacetaker's Artist Resource Center at
2101 Winter Street
Houston, TX 77007

Lawyers and accountants interested in volunteering at an upcoming clinic should contact TALA at < info@talarts.org >, and artists and non-profits interested in attending the open house should contact Spacetaker at < info@spacetaker.org > in order to make an appointment.

The next information session for new volunteers or anyone interested in information on TALA and it's processes will be July 18th, 2009 at the TALA office (1540 Sul Ross, Houston, TX 77006). Topics and speakers to be announced at a later date. Please contact Erin Rodgers, Staff Attorney, at < info@talarts.org > with any questions or suggestions.

Just in time for tax season, this is another in the series of email newsletters distributed by TALA and Blazek and Vetterling. This newsletter gives artists some guidelines for how the IRS classifies a "business" versus a "hobby". This is important information in terms of business deductions for artists on their income taxes. Also included are suggestions for working towards classifying your art practice as a business. Please click the link below to download.

TALA needs your support! Please consider becoming a member, or renewing your membership today. Follow the link below for Membership Information and the Membership Form.

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Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts is generously funded by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, the Houston Endowment, the Brown Foundation, the Anchorage Foundation, the Herzstein Foundation, the Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund, the Texas Commission on the Arts, and the State Bar of Texas.

If you wish to Unsubscribe from the TALA newsletter, and all future TALA communications, please visit http://www.talarts.org and enter your email address in the field and click "unsubscribe" Thank you

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Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) organization and has been providing pro bono legal and accounting services for artists and non-profits since 1979.

1540 Sul Ross Houston, Texas 77006 (713) 526-4876 info@talarts.org http://www.talarts.org

In these uncertain economic times, Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts is grateful for the support of the legal and accounting communities and their ongoing generosity in rendering much-needed professional services to those deserving artists and organizations of limited means, who otherwise would not have access to such services. Thank you.