AIR consists of two projects: a partnership with the Artistic Freedom Initiative (AFI), in which students will conduct research on the suppression of artistic freedom in various countries, and a partnership with the Center for Art Law, in which students will work on the Center’s Case Law Database which tracks lawsuits involving artworks, cultural property, artists’ estates, galleries, and other areas of interest. Students will participate in one of the two projects.
Along with the legal team at AFI, students will prepare a comprehensive study of the suppression of artistic freedom in various countries. Students will research the various universal, regional, and national instruments that protect creative expression, as well as efforts by the governments of the selected countries to restrict artistic freedom. Researchers will help to identify the effects of these efforts, as well as recommend public policies, legal measures, and best practices countries should take to further protect freedom of artistic expression. This legal and policy research will culminate in a report to be published and distributed at an AFI event at a future date to be announced. Students are invited to attend the event and may have the opportunity to present their research.
In collaboration with the Center for Art Law, students will review case law and contribute to the Center’s collection of lawsuits in their Case Law Corner involving artworks, cultural property, artists’ estates, galleries, and other areas of interest. Familiarity with art history, visual art, and/or the humanities is helpful but is by no means necessary as the project itself will involve training and collaboration. Through this project, students will learn about the world of art law and develop their legal research and analysis skills.
Supervision: Students in AIR provide legal services under the supervision of the Artistic Freedom Initiative and Center for Art Law.
Time commitment: AIR students will meet as a whole biweekly and AIR students will meet weekly with their project groups. Specific day and time will be determined based on the availability of students and supervising attorneys.
- AFI Project: 2-3 hours per week
- Center for Art Law Project: 2-3 hours per week
For more information, please contact the student leaders at airprobono@law.berkely.edu.