Our Mission
Cultural Heritage & Art
The CALI 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, CALI 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, CALI 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.
guides for artists & private museums
The Artist's Legal Compass
In the art world, a handshake deal or a gentleman’s deal (if you ignore the sexism) often masks complex risks regarding who for example, truly owns a digital image, who pays if a sculpture breaks in transit, or when exactly do you get paid after a sale. Law provides the formal language to set boundaries, ensuring that galleries and buyers treat your work with the same respect you do. By knowing your rights, you ensure that your creation remains exactly that: yours.
8 Pointers for a Private Museum
Stewardship of a private museum in India is a profound act of cultural preservation that requires a sturdy foundation. For a private institution, regulatory mindfulness is the bridge between personal passion and a public landmark. Navigating antiquity registrations, specialised insurance, and building compliance can be tricky. By honouring these standards, you transform a collection into a sanctuary, ensuring safety, solvency, and celebration for generations.
Legal Foundation for Artist-Gallery Relationship
The relationship between an artist and a gallery is the heartbeat of the art market, yet it is often left to the ambiguity of a handshake. In an industry fueled by passion, professional alignment is the only safeguard for creative longevity. Understanding each other’s expectations prevents the friction that stifles the creative process. This blueprint is designed to transform "gentleman's agreements" into a professional framework.
Art & Law News
Taxing the Pumpkin: Navigating Tax on Art Gains in a Transparent Market
The acquisition of art has been romanticized as a pursuit of the soul, an aesthetic dialogue between the collector and the creator. However, for those of us who spend their time engaged in law, art is also an asset class. The recent taxation of the gains from the sale of a Pumpkin sculptor held as part of a collector’s private collection as business income, has sent a tremor through the collecting community. The core of…
Specialty Museums in India- A Reflection
Specialty Museums in India Museums have long been regarded as the custodians of a history’s essence. In India, multiple layers of cultural and social development have occurred over millennia, meaning that the traditional museum format cannot possibly accommodate for the unique, niche and often underrepresented side of history sometimes out of sheer paucity of space. This led to the birth of specialty museums that dive deep into those niche narratives and stories. However, budget constraints…
The Hidden Collection: Why Copyright Fear is Silencing Canadian Museums
The paradox of the modern Canadian museum is as frustrating as it is pervasive. We live in an era where high-resolution imagery and instant connectivity are the default modes of human interaction. Yet, if you attempt to browse the digital archives of many of Canada’s prominent public galleries and museums, you will likely find the experience disappointing. Vast swaths of the national artistic heritage remain locked away, inaccessible to the public via digital platforms. While…