Conference: “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 threats 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 “unregulated” commodification of art has led, for example, to it becoming the third-largest source of funding for terrorist groups such as Daesh. The example of the ancient city of Palmyra, which was targeted by terrorist groups, has left a lasting impression.

In light of these challenges and issues, criminal law must take action—not only within the country 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 engages with criminal law, interpreting it through the lens of its various disciplines. The aim here is to examine how crime and criminal law are portrayed in literature, film, and theater, among other media. And art can serve as a source of response for criminal law when faced with song lyrics that could be construed as incitement to hatred or glorification of terrorism. The “Dieudonné” and “Nick Conrad” cases are highly significant in this regard.

The symposium, structured in this way, will be led by academics and professionals, which will contribute to the depth of the discussion.

Illustration Credits:

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

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