Art and culture law explained

Art and culture law refers to legal aspects of the visual arts, antiquities, cultural heritage, and the art market and encompasses the safeguarding, regulation, and facilitation of artistic creation, utilization, and promotion.[1] Practitioners of art law navigate various legal areas, including intellectual property, contract, constitutional, tort, tax, commercial, immigration law, estates and wills, cultural property law, and international law to protect the interests of their clients.

While the term "art" can encompass a wide range of creative forms, art law typically concentrates on the realm of fine art or visual arts.

Key terms

History

Art law has evolved significantly over the course of the 20th century, with its influence evident in municipal, state, and federal courts. In the United States, although the intersection of art and law is rooted in the U.S. Constitution and the Copyright Clause, which encourages "the progress of science and useful arts" by securing exclusive rights for authors and inventors, little headway was made in the realm of art law until William Howard Taft, convinced Congress to establish the National Commission of Fine Arts.[3]

Following World War II, there was a notable cultural boom, shifting the focal point of the art market from Europe to the United States. This change brought increased attention to American culture, and the American artist was no longer an outsider. Instead, they entered a new era, becoming integrated into the business environment. This newfound prominence highlighted the necessity for legal professionals with a specific focus on matters related to the arts.

Some of the leading art attorneys who have made a deep mark on the field include Judith Bresler, Norman Palmer, and John Henry Merryman.

See:

Importance

Art law is important because it provides the ability to protect the rights of artists, collectors, galleries, and museums. Art law does not only protect individuals but it promotes the creation, preservation, and distribution of art.[4]

Areas of art and culture law

Important art law cases

Cultural heritage cases

Theories

John Henry Merryman is a pioneer of cultural and artistic property law academia. He has drawn distinctions between two paradigms through which art and cultural law can be defined. The first is the subject being independent of its national ties and attracting significance and meaning from the historical or archaeological interest that is generated by human culture.[9] This is idea is legally bolstered by the UNESCO definition of cultural objects which is a close definition of significant objects which attract interest.[10] The second inextricably ties cultural objects to their national heritage which in turn legitimises efforts for their re-patriation (see Elgin marbles, Gweagal shield, Easter island).

External Links and Further Readings

Many organizations and libraries collect and catalogue art and cultural heritage publications.

Art Law Programs

Art Law Organizations:

Art Law Documentaries

Art Law in Pop Culture

Movies

Books

Art Law Podcasts

Art Law TV Series

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Guha . Anne . Guides: Art Law Research Guide: Introduction & Getting Started . 2023-11-26 . guides.ll.georgetown.edu . en.
  2. Web site: What does it mean? A guide to key terms in art law, Boodle Hatfield (2023) . December 20, 2023.
  3. Web site: Art Law . 2023-11-26 . TheFreeDictionary.com . en.
  4. Web site: Art Law: Everything You Need to Know . 2023-11-26 . www.contractscounsel.com . en.
  5. Web site: Entertainment or Artist Visa New York City Immigration Lawyer . 2023-12-20 . www.shanescottlaw.com.
  6. Web site: Estates, Wills, and Trusts artbizlaw.com . 2023-11-26 . en-US.
  7. Web site: International art law . 2023-12-20 . Berg & Moll International Lawyers . en-US.
  8. Web site: 2020-12-29 . Art Law in The Supreme Court . 2023-11-26 . Center for Art Law . en-US.
  9. John Henry Merryman ‘Two Ways of Thinking About Cultural Property’

    The American Journal of International Law Vol. 80, No. 4 (Oct., 1986), pp. 831-853 (23 pages) Cambridge Uni Press

  10. Article 1, The UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property of 1970.