The St. Louis Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts (VLAA) and the ACLU-EM are hosting an open meeting to discuss street performance in the metropolitan St. Louis area from 7-8:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 9, at the Regional Arts Commission office, located at 6128 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63112.
The ACLU and VLAA would like to hear from the community about the city's street performer permit, as well as performance problems in other parts of the St. Louis metropolitan area.
U.S. District Judge Catherine D. Perry granted a preliminary injunction July 30 in the American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri’s case, Pence v. City of St. Louis. The injunction means street performers don’t need to audition or purchase a license to perform in St. Louis City and prevents the enforcement of geographic limits so street performers are now free to appear at any public location. However, the Court ordered both parties to attempt to resolve the case in mediation, so the case is not over yet.
The media reported that the city will repeal its street performer ordinance, however, the Board of Aldermen has not taken any action. The ACLU will be negotiating with the city to protect the interests of the buskers and is interested in getting feedback from street performers.