The astonishing expansion of the art market and the increased promotion of culture over the course of the past thirty years – notably caused by the growth in the international exchange of art and cultural property - have raised numerous legal questions which explain why an institution specializing in the study of art law was created.

Because of the idiosyncratic legal problems that have emerged in the province of art and culture, art law has more and more become a branch of law in and of itself. It encompasses all the aspects of law that are connected with the creation, exhibition, reproduction, sale and transfer of property of both works of art and cultural objects. Art law also intersects with legal fields as varied as international law (both public and private), property law, copyright, insurance, customs and tax law.

Because the goal of the Art-Law Centre is to promote and coordinate research and work on the most current questions of art law, it has chosen an interdisciplinary approach by including people from both the art world and the legal world. The Centre can thus better diffuse its competence and information directly to the public, as well as to specifically interested entities (such as artists, collectors, auction houses, dealers, museums, etc.). In fact, the Centre is often requested by public and private entities to render legal opinions relating to specific issues of interest.