University Course in Art Law

Art law refers to the protection and care of cultural property and world cultural heritage as well as the art trade, the law of art auctions and art insurance law on an interdisciplinary and transnational level.

The certificate course focuses on controversial topics such as the international protection of cultural property, monument protection, museology, private art law and the artist’s copyright and personal rights. Economic links and the law of international conventions – such as UNESCO, UNIDROIT and EU law – also play an important role.

Current topics such as legal issues of art forgery, restitution of cultural property and provenance research or the role of the art expert against the background of national and international legislation and case law are discussed.

International case law and conventions point the way to the further development of art law, while national legal systems bear the responsibility for implementation and enforcement.

Within the framework of six modules, the postgraduate course “Art Law” gives participants the opportunity to enter into dialog with national and international experts in art and law.

The application deadline for the winter semester 2025/26 is Sept. 30, 2025.

First completed university education or adequate practical experience (e.g.: art trade) as well as students of law, art history or related disciplines
For the entire course: Written application by September 30, 2025
Language of instruction German: C1 level

2024/25 was the anniversary course – 10 years of art law ULG – 40 years of art law Vienna

Course consists of 6 modules.
Flexible sequence of modules possible.
The seminar always starts from Friday 17:00 to Sunday 16:00.

Completion of the course:

Receipt of a certificate of attendance for individual modules (2 ECTS each) or after the entire course – 12 ECTS in total.
Receipt of a certificate after completing all six modules and writing a scientific paper (additional 8 ECTS). thesis (additional 8 ECTS) – a total of 20 ECTS.

Costs for the entire course EUR 5.900,-
Costs per module: EUR 995,-

10% discount for students and ICOM members

(payment in installments possible by arrangement)

If you have any further questions, please contact our finance department (jus-accounting@sfu.ac.at).

• Go to the payment modalities

Participants of the course are members of the Austrian Students’ Union (ÖH) as extraordinary students of the Sigmund Freud Private University of Vienna and are therefore obliged to pay a student fee to the ÖH. The ÖH fee is used to represent the interests of students and to provide a comprehensive range of services. In addition, students are insured directly through the ÖH accident and liability insurance.
Further information is available at: https://www.oeh.ac.at/service/oeh-beitrag
The ÖH fee of EUR 24.70 per semester is invoiced directly to students by our finance department.
(Please state your first and last name as the reason for payment).

If you also pay ÖH fees at another university, the fee must be paid twice, but can then be refunded using this form.

Bulletin Art & Law
Publisher: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Gerte Reichelt
Research Association Art & Law
Sigmund Freud Private University of Law

Participants will receive the latest issue of the bulletin.

A list of all bulletins can be found in the SFU Shop and they can be ordered there or directly at kunstrecht@sfu.ac.at.

For participants of the ULG Kunstrecht there is a discount of 10% of the sales price.

Link to Searches by the Federal Criminal Police Office

• UNIDROIT Rome
• IFKUR-Heidelberg Art Law Days
• Art Law Talks University of Bonn
• Art & Law, continuing education event organised by the Faculty of Law at the University of Basel and visit to Art Basel
• Academic excursions to Venice and Florence

Dr. Silvie Aigner, Editor-in-chief of art magazine Parnass
Dr. Axel Anderl LL.M., Lawyer Vienna
FH-Prof. MMag. Dr. Clemens Bernsteiner LL.M., Head of the supervisory authority for collecting societies /FH Technikum Wien / University of Vienna
Univ.-Doz. Dr. Dieter Bogner, University Vienna
Prof. Dr. Thomas Dreier M.C.J., Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Antoinette Maget Dominicé, University of Geneva
Dr. Petra Eibel, Art insurance Vienna
José Angelo Estrella Faria LL.M., Former Secretary General Unidroit
Dr. Paul Frey, Managing Director Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna
MinRätin Mag. Anita Gach MA, Federal Criminal Police Office Vienna
Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Markus Grassl, University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna
Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. h.c. Stefan Grundmann LL.M., Humboldt University of Berlin
Prof. Dr. Sabine Haag, President of the Austrian UNESCO Commission
Mag. Nadja Haumberger, Vienna
Dr. Daniel-Philipp Häret, Lawyer Frankfurt and Karben
Univ.-Prof. MMag. Dr. Florian Heindler, Sigmund Freud PrivatUniversity Vienna
Prof. Dr. Wolf-Dieter Heilmeyer, Former Director of the Collection of Classical Antiquities of the National Museums in Berlin
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Burkhard Hess, University Vienna
† Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Erik Jayme LL.M., University Heidelberg
Ira Kaliampetsos MA, Lawyer Hellenic Society for Law and Archaeology Athen
Prof. Dr. Henry Keazor, University Heidelberg
Dr. Nicolai B. Kemle, Lawyer / IFKUR Heidelberg
Dr. Markus Kiesel, Heidelberg / Bayreuth
Mag. Christian Kircher, Managing Director of Bundestheater-Holding, Vienna
Dr. Susanne Knuth, Rostock Museum of Cultural History
Prof. Dr. Christian Kohler, Saarland University
Prof. Dr. Dres. h.c. Herbert Kronke, University Heidelberg
Robert A. Kugler, Lawyer and Notary Berlin
HR Dr. Andreas Lehne, Federal Monuments Office Vienna
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Max Leitner, Sigmund Freud PrivatUniversity
Dr. Doris Leutgeb MA, Custodian and Head of the Generali Foundation Salzburg Collection
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Heinz-Peter Mansel, University Cologne
Dr. Felix M. Michl, Lawyer Gießen

Dr. Peter Mosimann, Lawyer Basel
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Alfred, J. Noll Lawyer Vienna
Dr. Robert Peters, Ministerialrat, Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, Berlin
Univ.-Prof. DDr. Dr.h.c. Otto Pfersmann, Sigmund Freud PrivatUniversity
Prof. Dr. Franz Pichorner, Director of the Vienna Theatre Museum
Dr. Georg Plattner, Museum of Art History Vienna
Dr. Ernst Ploil, Lawyer Wien
Prof. Dr. Andreas Rahmatian, University of Glasgow
Dr. Andrea F.G. Raschèr MAS, Consultant and Coach Zurich, University of Bern
Prof. Dr. Peter Raue, Lawyer Berlin
Univ.-Prof. Dr. DDr. h.c. Walter H. Rechberger, University Vienna
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Gerte Reichelt, Art Law Forum / Academic management of the University Course Art Law / Research Association Art & Law
Prof. Dr. Marc-André Renold LL.M., University Genf
Prof. Dr. Bénédicte Savoy, Technical University Berlin
Prof. Dr. Haimo Schack LL.M., University Kiel
Mag. Dr. Pia Maria Schölnberger, Federal Ministry of Housing, Arts, Culture, Media and Sport
Dr. Wolfgang Schuster, Notary public Linz
HR Dr. Karl Schütz, Museum of Art History Vienna
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Sebastian Schütze, University Vienna
Dr. Sebastian Seeger LL.M., Lawyer Oslo
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Kurt Siehr M.C.L., Max-Planck-Institute Hamburg
MMag. DDr. Franz Smola MA, Curator Austrian Gallery Belvedere Vienna
Dr. Dr. Christoph Thun-Hohenstein, SC BM European and international affairs
Dr. Suzan Topal-Gökceli, University Vienna
Mag. Constanza Trofaier LL.M. BA, Head of Legal Affairs Austrian Gallery Belvedere Vienna
Mag. Daniel Uchtmann, Museum of Art History Vienna
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Lajos Vékás, University Budapest
Vincenz de Waal BA, Tax consultant Vienna
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Michel Walter, Lawyer University Vienna
Dr. Marc Weber LL.M., Lawyer Zurich
Prof. Dr. Mag.rer.publ. Matthias Weller MAE, University Bonn
SC MMag. Benno Widmer, Federal Office for Cultural Property Bern
Prof. Dr. Christoph Zuschlag, University Bonn

Scientific management:

Univ.-Prof. Dr Gerte Reichelt
Research Society Art & Law
Sigmund Freud Private University
Freudplatz 1, 1020 Vienna
E-mail: gerte.reichelt@jus.sfu.ac.at

Registration or questions about registration:

Contact: anmeldung.kunstrecht@sfu.ac.at

Can the modules be attended individually?
You can either book the entire course or individual modules.

If I miss a module, can I make up for it?
In principle, yes, but it cannot be guaranteed that the same lecture will be held.

On the folder under each module there are some sub-items that belong to the respective module (e.g.: MUSEOLOGY – legal issues of art museums, lending of works of art, etc.) Are all these points dealt with in the respective module?
All sub-items are topics that belong to the respective module and are dealt with. Sometimes, during the subsequent Q&A session, topics are discussed in more detail or other points are raised.

I am a student or already enrolled on a degree programme. Do I still have to pay the ÖH fee?
In organisational terms, the university stipulates that you can take part in the modules once you have paid the fee. However, if you have already paid the ÖH fee in Austria, this can be reclaimed using a form. You can find detailed information on the ÖH fee here: https://www.oeh.ac.at/service/oeh-beitrag

What payment options are available?
Payment options can be arranged individually with the Finance Department of the Sigmund Freud Private University. E-mail: jus-accounting@sfu.ac.at

Is it possible to get financial support for the participation fees?
There are funding options either as part of educational leave or via the WAFF as a further education programme. Information here: https://www.waff.at/beruf-weiterbildung/

Do I have to write a thesis? What options do I have to complete this university course?
A thesis is not compulsory. It can only be written if the entire course has been attended and must be submitted by the end of September. All modules are graded with a total of 12 ECTS. A final thesis would earn a further 8 ECTs as well as a final certificate. Without the final thesis, you will receive a certificate of attendance for the entire course or for individual modules (2 ECTs per module).

How should my thesis be structured and what should I bear in mind?
In principle, the structure of the thesis is very open. You can choose a topic of your choice that relates to the course. It should be approx. 20 pages long and correctly cited. You can also ask the programme director for literature. Prof Reichelt will also be happy to answer questions on the topic of your thesis during the modules and you can send a draft in advance.

Is there any literature that we should use or that is made available to us?
The Bulletins Kunst&Recht are a recommended source of literature.

Are there documents for the lectures and if so, where are they made available?
The lecture documents on our Moodle platform will be made available to you as soon as possible. You will receive the access data for your Moodle account after registration.

I have submitted my application, when will I find out if I have been accepted and what happens next?
As a rule, you will receive confirmation from us within a week.

Which areas do most of the participants come from and what age group are they in?
The interesting thing about the ULG Kunstrecht – Forum Kunstrecht is that there really is an interdisciplinary exchange between the most diverse people and age groups from the most diverse areas and they have one thing in common: a love of art. This results in very exciting discussions.

I’m not a lawyer and I’m worried that I won’t be able to follow the lectures because they might be too difficult. Can I still take part or do I need basic legal knowledge?
The lectures are held by experts from a wide range of fields such as law, art, insurance, management and many more. They are both exciting for lawyers and understandable for non-lawyers. This is exactly what makes this course so special.

Sophie Beck studied law in Heidelberg and now also art history in Berlin. Her passion for art and law is combined in the university course in art law at the SFU Vienna. The university course has encouraged her to go further in this direction professionally, especially in the field of provenance research. In the course of the university programme, many friendships and contacts were made with whom she was able to network.

Impressions of the university course Art Law 2024/2025

3rd module | Restitution and Provenance Research

Module 1 | Prologue and festive Sunday matinee

Impressions of the university course Art Law 2023/2024

Module 2 | Original, Copy, Forgery, Plagiarism, Appropriation Art

Module 3 | Restitution and Provenance Research

4th module | Museology

Graduates of the 1st course at the SFU from 2019
Graduation ceremony on Friday 11 October 2019