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.
Conference Art Meets Law
Conference „Art Meets Law“ in Delhi, India
The Conference on the topics on Art and Law will take place on the 31st January (Friday) at the India International Centre, New Delhi, India. The Conference on Art and Law will be hosted by Centre for Art and Law Initiatives, and RFKN with participation of the German Institute of Art and Law, Heidelberg, Germany.
The Centre for Art and Law Inititatives is a knowledge sharing space for art law in India for artists, experts, policy makers and lawyers. RFKN is a collaborative network of law chambers based in India, Germany, and Kenya dedicated to providing innovative legal solutions across borders. Please see the website (rfkn.legal) for further information.
The German Institute of Art and Law was founded in 2006 with the participation of well-known representatives of art law, the institute pursues the non-profit purpose of promoting science, research and teaching on legal issues arising from various areas. In the past, the institute has built conversations in areas such as the protection of cultural property at all levels of the legal systems, the protection of international loans between museums, the restitution of works of art stolen during the Holocaust, archaeological finds and cultural property that were taken out of the country due to the war, trade fair and auction law, tax, foundation and insurance law, as well as export and criminal law in connection with the trade in works of art and also copyright. The institute has been organizing the Heidelberg Art Law Days every year since 2006. These take place once a year. In 2025 the XIX. Heidelberg Art Law Days. The institute also publishes a quarterly magazine, “Kunstrechtsspiegel”, and once a year scientific articles are published in an anthology by the well-known Nomos publishing house. Please see the website (ifkur.de) for further information.
The intersection of art and law is an area of growing significance in contemporary India, encompassing a broad spectrum of legal disciplines, from intellectual property to commercial and criminal law. As our country grapples with the complexities of safeguarding cultural heritage, regulating the international art market, and addressing issues such as art forgeries and copyright infringement, this conference seeks to provide a distinguished forum for a meaningful exchange of such ideas among leading legal scholars, artists, and policymakers. It promises to be an enlightening and engaging event, featuring keynote speeches, panel discussions, and networking opportunities.
Event Details:
Conference „Art Meets Law“
Dates and timings: Friday, 31st January 2025 (10.30 am to 8 pm)
Location: Seminar Hall 1 and 2, Kamala Devi Building, India International Centre, New Delhi, India