Symposium: “Art and Criminal Law: Issues and Perspectives”

Faculty of Law and Political Science, Building 1, Lecture Hall C – 39 Rue de l’Université, Montpellier.

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The symposium focuses on the criminalization of the art market and the endangerment of cultural heritage. Societal and legal developments at the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century highlight the emergence of new forms of crime linked, in particular, to the value of cultural property and its entry into a parallel market.
The uncontrolled commodification of art has led to it becoming, for example, the third largest source of funding for terrorist groups such as ISIS. The example of the ancient city of Palmyra being targeted by terrorist groups has had a profound impact.

Faced with these challenges and issues, criminal law must intervene, not only within national borders, but also abroad and directly in the theater of terrorist operations.

The protection of cultural property has thus become a priority, both nationally and internationally.

At the same time, art also takes up criminal law, adapting it to its various disciplines. Here, we will examine how crime and criminal law are portrayed in literature, cinema, and theater, among other media. Art can also provide a response to criminal law when it comes to song lyrics that could be construed as inciting hatred or glorifying terrorism. The "Dieudonné" and "Nick Conrad" cases are very significant in this regard.

The symposium will be led by academics and professionals, which will contribute to the richness of the discussion.

Illustration credits:

The Avocado by Paul Cézanne
Source – Public domain – Author: Sailko – Creative Commons License 3.0

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