Conference – August 1999
Legislation, Litigation and Lust: Museums and the law
The ARC Professional Development Seminar – Legislation, Litigation and Lust: Museums and the law, was hosted by the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, from 12-13 August 1999.The theme of this two day conference gave recognition to the fact that an embrangle of ownership theories, import/export policies, property laws and international and national leglislation today surrounds the material heritage of humankind. This conference looked at how such laws operate within the framework of cultural institutions. Through an examination of these issues museum, gallery and cultural workers gained an incomparable understanding of their roles, responsibilities and capacity to affect events. The conference offered the most up-to-date information and analysis from a range of professional, government, academic and industry perspectives.The first day of the conference addressed issues related to the international movement of cultural property, import/export regulations and other legislation matters including the illegal trade in threatened and endangered wildlife.The second day of the conference investigated themes related to our legal responsibilities. Contracts regarding exhibitions and loans were formally addressed. Attention was drawn towards the main legislation within museums as it affects the acquisition, disposal and repatriation of collections. In addition, a special session covered the issue of firearms and dangerous artefacts held in museum collections.