The Institute of Art & Law has organised a number of seminars on cultural property in the past & this sounds like it will be a particularly interesting one, focussing on what is currently a very relevant subject. Of particular note is the fact that one of the speakers is from the British Museum. Unfortunately due to it being mid afternoon on a weekday I will be unable to attend.

From:
Institute of Art & Law

Forthcoming Seminars
War and Cultural Heritage

A Seminar to be held in association with the international law firm, Clyde & Co

Monday 6th June 2005, 3pm

In April 2003 the world was shocked to see the scenes of the looting of the Iraq National Museum. In fact, over the past decade the world has witnessed many scenes of cultural vandalism – the destruction of the Neretva Bridge of Mostar and the destruction of the Giant Buddhas of Bamiyan being just two such examples. As a result, the ability of international law to protect cultural heritage in times of armed conflict has assumed even greater importance.

The next seminar of the Institute of Art & Law, War and Cultural Heritage, will be held in London in association with the international law firm Clyde & Co., on the afternoon of Monday 6th June. This seminar will examine, in the light of the recent announcement by the UK Government that it intends to ratify the 1954 Hague Convention, the ways in which the law can be used in order to protect art, antiquities and monuments in time of war.

The seminar will be chaired by Jonathan Wood (Partner, Clyde & Co.), and the programme is as follows:

15.00 – Chairman’s Introduction – Jonathan Wood (Partner, Clyde & Co.)

15.05 – ‘Museum Curators Trapped in the Middle’ – Dr Irving Finkel, Assistant Keeper, Department of the Ancient Near East, The British Museum

15.25 – The 1954 Hague Convention – Kevin Chamberlain (Barrister, former Depute Legal Adviser to the Foreign Office, Legal Adviser to the Illegal Trade Advisory Panel, author War and Cultural Heritage)

16.05 – Discussion

16.15 – Tea

16.30 – The Spoliation Advisory Panel (Professor Norman Palmer, Barrister, Chair, Illicit Trade Advisory Panel, member of the Spoliation Advisory Panel)

16.45 – The Return of the Benevento Missal (Jeremy Scott, Partner, Withers)

17.05 – Sanctions (Jonathan Wood, Clyde & Co.)

17.30 – Insurance Issues (Partner, Clyde & Co.)

17.50 – Discussion

18.00 – Close

The cost of the seminar is £117.50 (£100 plus VAT). Some concessionary rates available: please enquire. Bookings and enquiries may be made by e-mail to Claire Lakin or by telephone (0116 253 8888).