A moral dilemma: Educating undergraduate fine arts students about their legal rights and professional issues

In the United States, visual artists have begun to possess more complete legal protections for their moral rights. But although the legal protections governing visual artists have significantly changed, visual art students may not be taught enough about them to receive the full benefit when they begin their careers as artists. Through a brief description of the history and scope of artist's moral rights laws, their importance and some possible inadequacies are explained. Cases are presented which illustrate the problems encountered when visual artists have not been fully aware of the scope of art law. A survey of undergraduate fine art schools examines how fine arts students are educated about their legal rights and other professional issues. Finally, a sample curriculum including art law is suggested, as well as legal references.Chairman: Valerie B. Morris.