Museum Law is a 2 credit hour seminar designed to acquaint the student to the role of legal problems faced by museums and their Boards in the management, acquisitions and protection of collections of Cultural Property. The student will be made aware of salient legal issues and problems in the world of contemporary museums. The student will be introduced to the knowledge that these issues and problems are universal and are present in the international museum world, as well. The student will be able to identify the United States and international sources to assist in addressing and solving these issues and problems. The student will further be able to assist art collectors of their role as the collector and museum discuss and negotiate the acquisitions of major collections. The student will learn to become comfortable discussing legal issues, problems and solutions to the museum client employing the proper lexicon of a very esoteric community.



Required Course Text: A Legal Primer on Managing Museum Collections, 2nd Edition by Marie C. Malaro, Smithsonian Books, Washington, 1998. In addition, selected readings and cases will be assigned from other materials and placed on library reserve.



Requirements for this Seminar include: Regular attendance, quality preparation and active participation in class; an original research paper or project of 15 or more pages, exclusive of endnotes, bibliography and table of authorities, and lastly, the submission of exercises and class reports as directed. Grading, by nature of the course, will not be anonymous.