Pivoting to Digital

Discussing the rights of artists when going virtual.

The theatre edition

Theatre and performing artists brought the stage to our screens during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ushering in a new era of collaboration, the transition to digital has brought up questions around ownership and agency when artists collaborate. What legal challenges have emerged in this process? In this panel discussion co-presented by the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance and PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, PLEO’s Legal Director Martha Rans is joined by Joanna Garfinkel (Playwrights Theatre Centre), Stephanie Wong (re:Naissance opera), and Derek Chan (Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre) to discuss these new creative challenges and solutions.

the music edition

Many months ago we were all enjoying concerts, crowded shoulder to shoulder, basking in our favourite songs being sung live. But suddenly, a mandatory pivot to digital was expected of musicians everywhere.  What happens when a musician is put on the spot, expected to share a pre-recorded performance as part of an interview, or festival after the fact?  As art has carried us through the pandemic, the presenter’s and public’s relationship with performances has considerably changed due to going virtual, but your rights haven’t. In this panel discussion co-presented by the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, we were joined by two time juno-nominated bassist, composer, and educator Jodi Proznick alongside Tim Reinert, Vancouver-based writer and broadcaster, and Matthew Lien, songwriter, composer, producer, and performer to discuss the musician’s pivot to digital.

the dance edition

Virtual performances have carried many of us through the pandemic, providing new ways for us to experience art, and stay connected. But, what are the concerns for dance artists when going virtual, and how can you protect yourself? Dancers everywhere have made the necessary pivot to digital in order to continue to share their work whether it be through offering a livestream, pre-recorded and purchased performance, or more. On May 27th as part of the Vancouver International Dance Festival, we discussed the legal complexities at play when presenting digitally with Josh Martin of Company 605, Allison Beda of A MUSE PRODUCTIONS, and Tamar Tabori, emerging dance / video artist.

The writers and literary organizations edition

What are the copyrights and copywrongs of written content online? What new opportunities does the digital transition present for writers, publishers, and events curators? Due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, writers have to advocate for themselves in new ways, requiring new legal literacy when it comes to contracts, and more effort in order to be empowered when sharing their craft with the world. For this special event co-presented by The Writers’ Trust, as part of the National Network’s Virtual Forum, we discussed the writers rights when pivoting to digital with Dina Del Bucchia and Shelley Youngblut.