Symposium: “Art and Criminal Law: Challenges and Prospects”

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

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The conference focuses on the criminalization of the art market and the threat to cultural heritage. Societal and legal developments in the late 20th and early 21st centuries have highlighted the emergence of new forms of crime linked, in particular, to the value of cultural property and its entry into a parallel market.
The unchecked commodification of art has led, for example, to it becoming the third-largest source of funding for terrorist groups such as ISIS. The example of the ancient city of Palmyra falling victim to terrorist groups has left a lasting impression.

In light of these challenges and issues, criminal law must step in—not only within the country but also abroad and directly in the theaters of terrorist operations.

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

At the same time, art also engages with criminal law, interpreting it through the lens of its own disciplines. The aim here is to explore how crime and criminal law are portrayed in literature, film, and theater, among other fields. And art can serve as a source of response for criminal law when faced with song lyrics that could be interpreted as incitement to hatred or glorification of terrorism. The “Dieudonné” and “Nick Conrad” cases are highly significant in this regard.

The conference, organized in this way, will be led by academics and professionals, which will enrich the discussion.

Image credits:

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

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