Artist's Archives and Estates: Cultural Memory eetween Law and Marcket - Archivi d'Artista e Lasciti: memorie culturali tra diritto e mercato

Managing, protecting and safeguarding the cultural and patrimonial legacy of an artist, especially if established or potentially attractive to the market, involves economic interests of great importance. It may require substantial investments in order to organize the artist’s cultural memory, the archive and to manage the bequest. The responsibility and protection of artists and their estates in pursuing these tasks is only partially regulated by the law. Nonetheless, legal reforms addressing specific needs are currently being discussed, such as the protection of authenticating artists and experts in the State of New York. Museums, public libraries and universities are involved in this discussion, as they appear to be today the chosen places to receive and preserve artists’ cultural legacy, especially when there are no heirs or when the heirs do not pursue their mission due to lack of funds or interest. Artists’ Archives and Estates is a fundamental issue not only from a pragmatic/practical perspective, but also from a legal perspective, which has given rise to a very interesting international academic debate.