About TALA

Purpose

Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts (TALA) believes that individuals, regardless of economic status or background, should have access to business knowledge and advice to further a career in the creative industries. TALA provides pro bono assistance from lawyers and accountants to artists, inventors, and small nonprofit arts organizations, along with public educational programs tailored to the artistic community. Programs are designed to help participants apply sound business practices to protect intellectual property, advance careers, and develop income. 

In 1979, a small group of attorneys and accountants in Houston envisioned offering artists and arts organizations the support they needed but could not afford. They gave their time pro bono to assist with legal and accounting matters, leading to the establishment of Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts, which was designated a 501(c)(3) organization by the IRS in February 1980. In 1986, the organization officially changed its name to Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts (TALA).

Initially headquartered in Houston, across from the Menil Collection at 1540 Sul Ross, TALA served Houston artists in person and matched artists across the state with attorneys in their hometown areas. TALA would call this office home for over 30 years.

In October 2013, after 34 years in Houston, TALA moved its headquarters to Austin. Advances in technology allowed TALA to more easily serve artists throughout the state, rapidly increasing service requests in other major Texas cities and rural areas. Austin was a logical move to a centrally-based city to continue operations.

In December 2016, TALA launched a new program in partnership with the United States Patent and Trademark Office to assist financially under-resourced independent inventors in Texas with filing patent applications.

Through TALA’s signature matching service, artists, inventors, and nonprofit staff are matched with attorneys and accountants to receive valuable advice and assistance at no cost. Additionally, TALA offers free seminars and clinics online and throughout the state, open to all. Instructors are licensed attorneys and CPAs. Countless individuals have benefited from TALA’s programming, leaving an enduring impact on the culture and arts in Texas.

TALA’s volunteer corps consists of over 500 volunteers, with approximately 300 offering services annually to artists, inventors, or nonprofit organizations. Volunteer pro bono hours culminate in over $1.5 million of donated services each year, enabling a significant and lasting transfer of knowledge and empowerment to low-income and underserved creative communities.