Cultural Patrimony, Art Markets, and Human Rights 

Albany Law Journal of Science and Technology, Vol. 34 presents:
Cultural Patrimony, Art Markets, and Human Rights
Moderator
Prof. Jonathan Rosenbloom
Professor; Director, Flexible JD Programs; Director, Albany Law School and University of Parma Study Abroad Program
Panelists
Leila Amineddoleh
Founder, Amineddoleh & Associates, LLC
Hillary Hoffmann
Co-Director of Bears Ears Coalition
Jarrett Key
Artist
Prof. Lauren Van Schilfgaarde
Assistant Professor of Law, UCLA School of Law
Prof. Patricia Reyhan
Professor of International Commercial Law, Contracts, and Conflict of Laws, Albany Law School
Prof. Cheryl Packwood
Visiting Assistant Professor of Law, International Business Transactions and Public international Law, Albany Law School
The recent decision by the Ninth Circuit Court in Cassirer v. Thyssen-Bornemisz shows that art litigation requires a complex analysis of the conflict of law, international law, art markets, human rights, and world politics. It also turns on questions of ownership of property. Although arts and culture have played significant roles in shaping our society, we have not contemplated sufficiently why they truly matter, and why we must protect them. Arts and cultural heritage unite people by promoting belongingness and creativity.
Cultural heritage is composed of monuments, practices, and works of art that a society uses to express itself. During conflicts, cultural monuments and arts often become targets of destruction as a means to cultural cleansing. Destructing arts is also used as a tactic to oust courageous voices representing a certain group of people. Therefore, safeguarding cultural heritage is significant to protecting cultural rights and cultural patrimony. How we value and understand arts and cultural heritage have impacts on shaping law and public policy.
Moreover, works of art are at the center of commercial transactions and trade because art is one of the most valuable goods people desire. The art markets involve numerous parties, such as art galleries, art dealers, artists, financial institutions, and lawyers. This symposium opens up dialogues among artists, policymakers, and lawyers concerning the meaning of culture and arts to our society, and how laws and policies can more effectively protect both tangible and intangible cultural property. Together with students, panelists will examine the following questions: why cultural heritage and arts matter in modern times? How does respecting cultural heritage relate to peacebuilding? What is the role of lawyers in art markets? How do lawyers represent artists in the context of art markets?