Brady & Associates Lawyers · Practice resource
Entertainment & Arts Practitioner Law.
Australian performing arts law, explained clearly for the people who work in it. Theatre, dance, live music, circus, comedy, and the crew and independent practitioners who make it happen. Written by Aaron Kernaghan at Brady & Associates Lawyers, this is a working library on the law that shapes contracts, copyright, pay, safety and disputes in the live sector.
Commonwealth law, with New South Wales and ACT detail · 0421 717 019
This resource is for informational purposes and general commentary only. It does not constitute legal advice and does not create a solicitor-client relationship.
The performing arts run on relationships, deadlines and goodwill, and the law sits underneath all of it. A missed clause in an engagement contract, an assumption about who owns a recording, or a gap in a venue's safety duties can undo months of work. This library sets out the law that matters most to performers, producers, venues, festivals and independent practitioners, in plain language, so you can see the shape of an issue before it becomes a problem.
The articles below are grouped by theme. The published pieces are linked. The remaining topics are being written and added to this resource. If your question is urgent or specific to your own situation, the firm is available now on 0421 717 019.
Start here: the master guides.
Five cornerstone articles that cover the ground most practitioners ask about first.
- Employee or independent contractor? How performing artists are classified in Australia
- Who owns the copyright in a performance, script or choreography?
- Moral rights for Australian performers and creatives
- Performance and engagement contracts: key terms explained
- Work health and safety in live performance
The full library.
One hundred topics across fifteen areas of Australian performing arts law. Published pieces are linked; the rest are in preparation.
This resource is for informational purposes and general commentary only. It does not constitute legal advice and does not create a solicitor-client relationship. It reflects Australian law as at 13 September 2026. Written by Aaron Kernaghan, Brady & Associates Lawyers.