Center for Art Law Summer School 2026
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LOCATION:
New York City Bar Association
42 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036
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DATE & TIME:
May 18, 2026 – May 22, 2026
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Welcome to our Art Law Summer School!
Novation and globalization of the art market is leading to an increasing reliance on art law to provide a bridge between a complex web of art market stakeholders. Join us for the Center for Art Law’s inaugural Summer School, an immersive five-day professional and educational program on the ever- evolving field of art law.
Major course units focus on the legal issues relevant to artists, gallerists, collectors, as well as covering copyright, fair use, artificial intelligence, moral rights, provenance and restitution.
Courses are taught by leading experts in the art field, featuring renown art litigators, law professors, art market analysts, artists, dealers, provenance researchers, advisors and appraisers.
One Week of Art Law
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Day 1: Introduction to Summer school, Art Law & the U.S Legal System; Introduction to Art Advising & Art Appraisal
The first day of the program will set the foundation for understanding art law. Participants will explore the U.S. legal system and sources of legal authority to understand the scope of art law. Discussions will include what art law encompasses, contemporary issues and cases, the key market players, and how legal reasoning applies in this unique context.
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Day 2: Contracts, Business Relations & the Art Market
On the second day, the focus will shift to the business side of the art world, including contracts and their role in the primary and secondary art markets. Participants will examine artist-gallery relationships, collectors’ rights, and the Uniform Commercial Code’s application to title and possession. Sessions will also explore art fairs, art auctions, and the future of art business. succession planning.
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Day 3: Intellectual Property, Moral Rights & Digital Art
The third day of the program focuses on intellectual property issues central to the art world. Participants will delve into copyright infringement, appropriation art, fair use, and parody. Sessions will also cover moral rights under the Visual Artists Rights Act (VARA) and emerging topics like AI, digital art, and social media.
Participants will learn about property law concepts, provenance research, and title issues that arise in art transactions. The curriculum will also address anti-money laundering regulations, equipping participants with the tools to navigate complex art dealings.
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Day 4: Provenance Research, Due Diligence, Sanctions, and Compliance
This day will focus on the legal and ethical responsibilities of museums, institutions, and market participants in conducting provenance research, handling restitution claims, and ensuring compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations.
Through three dedicated sessions, we will examine best practices for provenance research in museums, legal frameworks governing restitution of art, and the learn about responsible art market practices. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how these issues intersect and the importance of due diligence in maintaining transparency and accountability in the art world.
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Day 5: Litigation & ADR, Art Collecting & Succession
The final day will focus on legal challenges and dispute resolution mechanisms in the art world, as well as strategies for managing and transferring art collections. Sessions will cover litigation in art law, including cases involving consignments and cultural property disputes; the role of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in resolving art-related conflicts outside of court; key considerations for building and maintaining an art collection; and estate planning strategies for ensuring the smooth succession of artworks. Participants will gain insights into the legal, financial, and practical aspects of protecting and passing down art assets.
Photos from our 2025 Art Law Summer School
Details and Deadlines
Taking place in the center of the art world, New York City, the program will provide participants with a foundational understanding of art law, opportunities to explore key issues in the field, and access to a network of professionals and peers with shared interests. Participants will also have the opportunity to see how things work from a hands-on and practical perspective by visiting galleries, artist studios, auction houses, and law firms and speaking with professionals dedicated to and passionate about the field.
Ideal for undergraduate and graduate students, pre-law and law students, young attorneys, and professionals in the legal and art world who want first hand knowledge of art law while networking with your peers. Whether you are pursuing a career in law, art, or a related field, this summer school will offer an unparalleled opportunity to expand your understanding and connections.
Key Details:
Dates: May 18 – May 22, 2026
Location: New York City (venues include visits to art fairs, museums, law firms, auction houses, galleries, and artist studios)
Cost: $3,600 (includes classes, course materials, outings, and visits; **accommodation and food is not included)
Language of Instruction: English
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the program, please reach out to: artlawteam@itsartlaw.org or atreya@itsartlaw.org
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Application Timeline
- Applications Open: January 20, 2026
- Application Deadline: March 1, 2026
- Decisions Released: March 31, 2026
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Tuition
The program fee of $3,600 is due upon acceptance to the program. Payment instructions will be provided with your confirmation email. Accepted participants will also receive detailed information about class schedules, field trips, and other program logistics upon confirmation.
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Accomodations
Participants will receive a list of recommended accommodations with discounted rates.
Tentative Schedule
Day 1 – Survey of Art Law & Introduction to the U.S Legal System
- Introduction to Art Law Summer School
- What is Art Law?
- Introduction to U.S Law
- How the Market Works and Understanding its Players
- A Primer on Art Advising
- Understanding the Art of Appraisal
- Visit to Art Fair + Evening Reception
Day 2: Contracts, Business Relations & the Art Market
- Primary Market: The Artist Gallery Relationship
- Secondary Market: UCC Title and Possession & Collectors
- Understanding Duties of Art Market Participants
- Auction House Guided Tour
Day 3: Intellectual Property, Moral Rights, and Digital Art
- Fundamentals of Copyright Law
- The Visual Artists Rights Act and Its Impact on the Art Market
- Introduction to Trademarks and Infringement in Art
- Artificial Intelligence, Creativity & Copyright Law
- Fakes and Forgeries
- Artist Studio Visit
Day 4: Provenance Research, Sanctions and AML Compliance Sanctions
- Introduction to Legal Issues in Museum Administration
- Provenance Research and Art Restitution
- Afternoon at Law Firm: CLE event on Due Diligence and Compliance for Art Market Participants
- Gallery Crawl
Day 5: Litigation & ADR, Art Collecting & Succession
- Litigation in Consignments, Authenticity, Auction Houses
- Alternative Dispute Resolution of Art Matters
- Cultural Heritage Litigation
- Networking event with Art Attorneys
- Succession: Estate planning for Artists and Collectors
- Debriefing and Closing Ceremonies
- Art + Law Reception
Sponsors
We appreciate all our 2025 Sponsors! If you would like to be a Sponsor for the Art Law Summer School 2026, please reach out to us.
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Hosting our Students and Lectures
We are accepting suggestions and offers from hotels and galleries to host Center for Art Law Summer School Modules this May.
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Becoming a Corporate Sponsor
If you would like to support the Center’s mission, please consider becoming one of the sponsors for the Summer School. Please reach out to artlawteam@itsartlaw.org.
Meet our Organizers
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Irina Tarsis
Founder & Managing Director, Center for Art Law
Irina TarsisFounder & Managing Director, Center for Art Law
Irina Tarsis, Esq., brings business and art history training to her practice of art law. She concentrates on disputes related to ownership of visual art. Founder and Director of the Center for Art Law, she conducts provenance research and consults on art law matters such as title disputes, copyright infringement and fair use, artists’ rights, restitution, authenticity and provenance research. Ms. Tarsis is a regular speaker on resale royalty rights, due diligence in provenance research, fair use issues affecting visual arts, and many other art law-related topics.
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Atreya Mathur
Director of Legal Research, Center for Art Law
Atreya MathurDirector of Legal Research, Center for Art Law
Atreya Mathur is the Director of Legal Research at the Center for Art Law. She received her Master of Laws from New York University School of Law where she specialized in Competition, Innovation, and Information Laws, with a focus on copyright, intellectual property, and art law. She is an attorney from India and also co-founded m e r a k i consultancy, a consultancy service focused on legal academia and higher education in law. -
Richard Lehun
Founding member of Stropheus, a New York-based legal and business collective for the arts
Richard LehunFounding member of Stropheus, a New York-based legal and business collective for the arts
Richard Lehun is an attorney and consultant focused on business and legal relations in art, visual media, film, and television. He is responsible for transactions involving fiduciary duties and conflicts of interest, particularly those relating to artist-gallery relations, artist commissions, art advising, consignor-auction house relations, gallery, museum, auction house, and non-profit ethics. He also works in the area of arts-related intellectual property issues, including copyright and trademark.
