Drummond Woodsum Attorneys to Join Important Dialogue on Indigenous Artistic Representation at WAA Conference

We’re proud to share that Drummond Woodsum attorneys Naomi Bebo and Ari Solotoff will be speaking at the 2025 Western Arts Alliance (WAA) Conference in Los Angeles, California which takes place September 2–5th.

Their panel session on September 2nd immediately follows a keynote luncheon featuring Pamela Villasenor’s talk, The Land You’re On.  In their presentation, Naomi and Ari will delve into several key issues at the intersection of law, culture, and the arts, including:

  • Communication strategies relating to cultural competency, especially relating to written vs. oral traditions of art making;
  • Expectations for crediting and royalty splits outside of the Western framework of a singular composer/creator being at the head of the project; and
  • Equitable presentation of artist identity and the cultivation of rapport/relationships as a part of the commissioning process.
  • Engaging identity-specific art within today’s political ecosystem.

As a member of Drummond Woodsum’s Tribal Nations practice group, Naomi Bebo brings a deep understanding of tribal governance and Indigenous cultural practices. Ari Solotoff is an entertainment lawyer with extensive experience counseling clients across all areas of the entertainment, music, and arts industries, offering valuable insight into the legal and business challenges that performing arts professionals regularly navigate.

Drummond Woodsum is honored to be part of the dialogue on how legal frameworks can evolve to support Indigenous ways of creating and collaborating. By integrating Indigenous values in both legal and business decisions, we aim to help artists and organizations navigate the complexities of the creative marketplace with integrity, respect, and cultural understanding.

Naomi’s and Ari’s panel is a collaboration with the Anatomy of a Commission program of the American Composers Forum. To explore the full WAA 2025 conference schedule, visit: https://www.westarts.org/schedule.