Our Mission
Cultural Heritage & Art
The Centre pursues the non-profit purpose of promoting advice, research and teaching on the legal issues involved in the world of art. These legal issues include the protection of cultural property at all levels of the legal structure including the domestic, Indian law and both international as well as transnational legal concerns, the protection of international loans between museums, the restitution of works of art stolen in the colonial era, archaeological finds and cultural assets that were taken out of the country, trade fair and auction law, tax, foundation and insurance law, as well as export and criminal law in connection with the (international) trade of works of art and also copyright, ancillary copyrights, media law.
Conferences & Teaching
In addition to a wide range of lectures, seminars, and symposia, the Centre organizes the Annual Conference on Art and Law once a year in cooperation with other institutions. In response to today's growing need to almost always engage with cross-border issues, there is a need for an international network: collaboration with the German Institute of Art and Law IFKUR and with renowned colleagues all over the world. In addition to the conferences, the Council offers and promotes individual lectures, webinars and meetings on focus issues.
Advisory & Network
Advice and support in art and cultural property law are a major component of our work. This also includes the formation of a network of experts from all fields; from the legal to the museum sector, from the art market and galleries and to various groups and individual artists. In addition to these areas, there is material research, provenance research and close cooperation with experts and foundations.
Art & Law News
From Souvenir Shops to Cultural Stewardship:India’s New Heritage Initiative
The Archaeological Survey of India’s Piloted Model for Heritage Commerce The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has recently announced an initiative that may finally bridge the awkward gap between history as something you passively observe and history as something you can take home. At 55 select monuments, ranging from Qutub Minar to Gol Gumbaz, the ASI will transform its existing publication counters into full-fledged souvenir shops. These shops will stock replicas, craft items, and heritage-inspired…
Assam Preserves a Legend: Kuthori House to Become Bhupen Hazarika Museum
In a significant move toward preserving cultural memory, the Assam government has recently acquired the Kuthori house of Bhupen Hazarika, including seven bighas of land, for about ₹2.51 crore. The plan is to restore and transform it into a museum or cultural centre that honours the legendary musician’s legacy. Kuthori, near Kaziranga, holds special meaning: it was among the places where Hazarika wrote and composed many of his iconic songs. This step comes in his…
Letters, Legacy, and Language: Kerala’s Museum of Letters Gets a ₹15 Crore Makeover
Kottayam, Kerala—affectionately called the “City of Letters”—is adding a new chapter to its literary lineage. India’s first Museum of Letters and Literature is set to receive a ₹15 crore expansion funded by KIIFB (Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board). This isn’t just bricks and mortar—it’s a symbolic, sophisticated celebration of linguistic diversity. With new galleries, digitisation labs, and conservation units on the way, the museum is staking a claim as a rare cultural institution in India,…