This symposium will bring 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 David Rudenstine will present his decades-long historical research challenging the British Museum’s claim in 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. Dean Melanie Leslie will make opening remarks.
Panel 1: 9:30 a.m.
History Surrounding the Removal of the Sculptures and the U.K. Purchase of Elgin's Collection
Panelists: Elena Korka, Honorary Director General, Antiquities and Cultural Heritage of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports; David Rudenstine, Professor, Cardozo School of Law; Giovanna Bellesia, Department Chair of Italian and German Studies, Smith College
Panel 2: 11:00 a.m.
Should the British Museum Return the Collection to Athens?
Panelists: Irini Stamatoudi, Professor, University of Nicosia; Elizabeth Marlowe, Professor, Colgate University; Kris Tytgat, President, International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures
Luncheon Address: 12:30 p.m.
Panelists: Dimitrios Pandermalis, President, Acropolis Museum and Lina Mendoni, Minister of Culture and Sports, Cabinet of Kyriakos Mitsotakis
Panel 3: 1:30 p.m.
The Universal Museum Myth
Moderator: Irini Stamatoudi, Professor, University of Nicosia
Panelists: Patty Gerstenblith, Professor, DePaul College of Law; Elena Korka, Honorary Director General, Antiquities and Cultural Heritage of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports; Joe Baker, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Lenape Center
Panel 4: 3:15 p.m.
Cultural Property & International Human Rights Trends
Moderator: Sandy Cobden ’90, Deputy General Counsel, Pactiv Evergreen Inc.
Panelists: Lawrence Kaye, Partner, Herrick, Feinstein LLP; Leila Amineddoleh, Founder, Amineddoleh & Associates LLC; Kristen Carpenter, Professor of Law, University of Colorado
Reception to follow the event.
New York State CLE Credit pending.
Additional program participants will likely be added. Please direct all questions to Cecily D'Amore at symposium@cardozoaelj.com.
