The aims to develop participants’ knowledge of the main issues in international cultural heritage law, including the regulation of the art trade, the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural property, the restitution of stolen or looted artworks, and the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict. To this end, the faculty will examine the legal instruments adopted by UNESCO and other international organizations – such as the 1954 Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, the 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, and the 2017 Council of Europe Convention on Offences relating to Cultural Property – as well as their implementation at the national level. In order to provide an up-to-date overview of international cultural heritage law, the faculty will also analyse its interaction with other areas of law – particularly European Union law, intellectual property law, and human rights law – as well as issues relating to dispute settlement.

At the end of the course, participants will be able to identify:

• the main legal issues relating to the protection of tangible and intangible cultural heritage;
• the principal legal risks and the most recurrent legal challenges in the international market for art, antiquities, and collectibles;
• the legal instruments and ethical principles applicable to these matters.

In addition, participants will be able to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of:

• the functioning and regulation of the art market;
• the dynamics of the illicit trafficking of cultural property;
• the national and international legal instruments adopted to prevent and combat the illicit trafficking of cultural property.

The course will be taught entirely in English and will be delivered by leading academics and practitioners in the field through in-person lectures, discussions, and group work.

The Summer School is open to undergraduate and graduate students, researchers, and PhD candidates in law and other disciplines, including art history, archaeology, anthropology, political science, and international relations. Applications are also welcomed by lawyers, gallery owners, and other professionals, as well as collectors, journalists, art enthusiasts, and anyone interested in deepening or developing their knowledge in the field of art and cultural heritage law, or in orienting their career towards this sector. 

Participants must be able to communicate in English.

The skills acquired during the course will provide participants with a crucial competitive advantage in pursuing professionaladvancement or opportunities in a variety of sectors, including:

• international institutions (legal adviser; public official at the national, European, and international levels);
• the art market and the museum sector (curator; exhibition manager; registrar; compliance officer; judicial and extrajudicial adviser for museums, galleries, auction houses, and private collectors);
• specialised journalism and publishing.

The programme will include the following topics:

• introduction to art law and cultural heritage law;
• the art market and its regulation;
• the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict;
• combating the illicit trafficking of cultural property: national and international instruments;
• art and cultural heritage law: a comparative analysis of national models;
• the protection of underwater cultural heritage;
• cultural heritage and human rights;
• intellectual property law and cultural heritage;
• dispute resolution.

The full programme will be made available in due course.

Participants who have attended at least 80% will be awarded a ‘Certificate of Participation’ issued by the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano.

Schedule and location
 

The Summer School will be held from Monday 29 June until Friday 3 July from 10:00 to 17:00 (including breaks), with a few exceptions as to the time, for a total of about 30 hours.

The course will take place in person at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, in Largo A. Gemelli, 1, Milano 
 

Registration fees

• 1.400,00 Euro + 22% VAT
• 990,00 Euro + 22% VAT early bird (for inscriptions received until 15 March 2026)

A 10% discount applies for graduates and diploma holders of the University enrolled in the Premium services of the UCSC Alumni Community of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano

Upon notification of acceptance, successful applicants will be required to pay, within seven (7) working days, a deposit of an amount corresponding to 50% of the tuition fee. The remaining registration fee must be paid within thirty (30) days of the first payment.

Registrations will remain open until 31 May 2026.

Inscriptions 
 

Candidates shall submit the following documents with an email addressed to summerschoolACH@unicatt.it :

• curriculum vitae (in English, Italian or French);
• cover letter explaining the interest (maximum 300 words);
• copy of an ID (passport or national identity card).

Applications will be assessed by the Directors. Where necessary, the Directors may invite candidates to participate in an online interview.

Information
 

For information, please contact summerschoolACH@unicatt.it

Arianna VISCONTI, Associate Professor of Criminal Law& the Arts, Faculty of Economics; Director, Graduate School ‘Federico Stella’ of Criminal Justice (ASGP); Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano
 

Alessandro CHECHI, Adjunct Professor and Associate Researcher, Faculty of Law, Université Catholique de Lille

In partnership with Stefano MANACORDA, UNESCO Chair in ‘Business Integrity and Crime Prevention in Art and Antiquities Market’ (University of Campania ‘Luigi Vanvitelli’)

Alessandro CHECHI
Lucia MALDONATO