The Parthenon Marbles Case and the Universal Museum Myth: Policies and Politics

The Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Professor David Rudenstine, the Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal, the Benjamin B. Ferencz Human Rights and Atrocity Prevention Clinic and the FAME Center are pleased to host a symposium on cultural property ownership. The symposium brings together leading scholars and advocates to discuss the history of cultural property, their rightful owners and whether the property should be returned to the original creating country.

Professor Rudenstine will present his decades-long historical research about the cultural property dispute between Greece and Great Britain over the Parthenon Sculptures taken to London in the early 1800s by the British ambassador, Lord Elgin. In his article, Professor Rudenstine assesses the legality of the taking and argues that, contrary to conventional narrative, there is no evidence that establishes that Ottoman officials gave Elgin prior or subsequent written permission to remove the Parthenon Sculptures from the edifice. Moreover, the British Museum continues to misrepresent the essential facts, and that its misrepresentations are knowing and deliberate. Distinguished art law practitioners will engage in a conversation with Professor Rudenstine about his research and the legality of the taking of the Elgin Marbles.

To access the symposium flyer, simply follow the link provided.