Laws, treaties, conventions and policies govern the acquisition, transport, and use of cultural items, including works of art, artifacts, antiquities, manuscripts, and publications. The main international treaties are listed in the overview section below. For guidance on specific matters, use the Contact Us link on the right.Faculty and staff should be aware of the ethical and legal issues related to the acquisition of significant works of art, artifacts and antiquities from countries outside the U.S. Several international treaties address these issues including:
- The Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, 1954
- The UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, 1970
- The UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects, 1995
Specific host-country laws may also regulate or restrict the movement of art, artifacts or antiquities internally or across borders. To request assistance in identifying regulations that may apply to your activities, use the Contact Us link on the right.