Drummond Woodsum Attorneys to Speak at Western Arts Alliance Conference on Advancing Indigenous Performance

Drummond Woodsum attorneys Naomi Bebo and Ari Solotoff will speak on a distinguished panel at the Western Arts Alliance (WAA) Conference on September 2, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. The session is part of the broader WAA Conference, which runs September 2–5 and brings together touring and performing arts professionals from across the western United States and beyond.

Their panel session will explore nuanced legal and communication strategies in the commissioning and presentation of Indigenous performing arts, with a focus on culturally competent approaches to artist engagement. Naomi and Ari will examine the challenges and opportunities at the intersection of oral traditions and written legal agreements, as well as alternative models for crediting and royalty distribution that move beyond the Western concept of a singular creator. They will also address the importance of cultivating authentic relationships with artists and ensuring equitable representation throughout the commissioning process.

Naomi’s and Ari’s panel is a collaboration with the Anatomy of a Commission program of the American Composers Forum. The WAA Conference has become a key gathering for artists, presenters, agents, and advocates. Learn more and view the full conference schedule at: https://www.westarts.org/schedule