Visual Artists' Rally April 15, 2006

Los Angeles-based artist Jeffrey Vallance and the graduating class of the California College of the Arts MA Curatorial Practice program are proposing an idea for a federal bill that would create a fund for all living visual artists in the United States. The project team is leading a rally and legislation mailing for the proposed bill on TAX DAY, APRIL 15TH, at 3pm in front of San Francisco City Hall (Polk Street between Grove and McAllister). Come advocate for visual artists' rights!

For more information, go to: www.americasculturalheritage.us

Background: The bill under discussion proposes a 1% tax on the sale of all art in the United States to fund a program to benefit individual artists. Annual disbursements from this fund would be paid to eligible artists living in the US. Eligibility would be awarded to those who are committed to their career, having evidence of an exhibition history. Additionally, the new legislation would create an artist registry organization that would administer the annual payments. The organization would also assist with the enforcement and efficacy of resale royalty laws like the California Resale Royalties Act (Civil Code 986), which requires a 5% royalty from sales of $1,000 or more to be paid to the artist or their estate.

Jeffrey Vallance, current faculty member in the Art Department at UCLA, received an MFA from The Otis Art Institute of the Parsons School of Design, Los Angeles in 1981. His work reveals often overlooked aspects of relationships between the religious, the secular, and the political. He explores these relationships through the use of various media, such as painting, drawing, video, and performance. ?Preserving America?s Cultural Heritage? is the first project of its kind by the artist.

When speaking about his motivations for the project Vallance has stated, ?the tragedy of America?s culture is that many artists do not see a return on their hard work during their lifetime, and those who do are often not able to benefit from it.?

Jeffrey Vallance is working in collaboration with the MA Curatorial Practice class of 2006 at California College of the Arts. ?Preserving America?s Cultural Heritage? is the students? graduate thesis project. Carried out over the fall and spring semesters, the students and Vallance have been working together to research, develop and launch the project, as well as produce a related catalog and interpretative program.

CCA?s Curatorial Practice program is the first curatorial program on the West Coast. It is an intensive two-year graduate program designed to expose prospective curators to the intricacies of exhibition making and commissioning beyond the gallery space. The program is generously supported by the Getty Foundation, the Christensen Fund, the W.L.S Spencer Foundation and the Asian Cultural Council.

For more information about the CCA program, visit http://sites.cca.edu/curatingarchive.

For more information about the project and upcoming events, contact: Jessica Martin jmartin4@cca.edu

Official Website: http://www.americasculturalheritage.us