Starting this Friday, June 15th at Old Osgoode Hall, a new two-day symposium attempts to bring attention to the burgeoning issue of criminality in the art and cultural property world. Organized by Czegledi Art Law, a firm focused on international art and cultural heritage law, the symposium is the first of its kind for Canada. Where other conferences relating to art and law address the protection of artist rights, the Czegledi symposium will tackle the protection and preservation of art and cultural artifacts.
Ms. Bonnie Czegledi of Czegledi Art Law and Mr. Justice Patrick Healy of the Court of Quebec, Criminal and Penal Division, Montreal will moderate the symposium, which will have in its presence key international experts in the field of art and cultural crime.
On Friday, attendees will be introduced to the problem of archeological theft, antiquities and Nazi looted art before a presentation regarding Canadian international legal obligations regarding cultural property. The day will end with a discussion regarding cultural heritage crime investigations. On Saturday, the symposium will shift its focus to risk management and the gathering of evidence in criminal prosecutions of cultural heritage crimes. The event will finish with a guided tour of the Textile Museum of Canada.
For more information regarding the upcoming symposium, please visit www.czeglediartlaw.ca. We will be covering the event later on this month, so stay tuned!
Elena Iosef is a JD candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School.