Art and Heritage Law: Contested Heritage

39 Essex Chambers
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Art, heritage and the odd bit of law. Richard Harwood KC, barrister of 39 Essex Chambers and Clarissa Levi, Art & Heritage Counsel at Wedlake Bell LLP discuss challenges and successes in the heritage and art world with guests from across the sector. For professionals, owners and the general listener, Clarissa and Richard ask: what is going on? what can be done? what are the stories behind the buildings, treasures and the cases?

  1. FEB 11

    The Cultural Gifts Scheme

    Richard Harwood KC of 39 Essex Chambers and Clarissa Levi of Wedlake Bell speak to Michael Clarke and Sarah Posey about the Cultural Gifts Scheme – why we have it, how it works, and the effect it has. They discuss their favourite CGS gifts so far and possible changes ahead.

    31 min

  2. 12/17/2025

    Private Property and the Protection of our Heritage

    Richard Harwood KC and Clarissa Levi are joined by Lord Inglewood to discuss the balance between private ownership of our heritage property and state intervention. We ask how to make the protection of our heritage financially sustainable, what works well in the current system, and what needs to be strengthened.

    28 min

  3. 12/10/2025

    The Importance of Recent Buildings

    Heritage, and architectural and artistic interest in particular, does not need to be old. Richard Harwood and Clarissa Levi talk to Catherine Croft, the Director of the Twentieth Century Society, about some of the masterpieces of the last 40 years. Ranging from Southwark tube station on the Jubilee Line, Number One Poultry, to Dame Elisabeth Frink’s Desert Quartet and Peter Barber’s social housing, they ask how we assess and recognise recent architecture. They also ask: do architects like their work to be made listed buildings? The Twentieth Century Society is the National Amenity Society for post-1914 buildings. It’s Coming of Age campaign looks at buildings reaching 30 years old, which is the usual threshold for listing.

    28 min

  4. 11/26/2025

    Art and Listed Buildings

    What has art to do with listed buildings? When can a painting or sculpture be a listed building or part of a listed building? How can listed building consent be obtained? Richard and Clarissa talk about Lucian Freud, the Dill case, the Time & Life building, chandeliers and stuffed birds. Check out companion episode 20 Art and Land with David Sawtell discusses related property issues. The Contested Heritage – Removing Art from Land and Historic Buildings book is authored by Richard Harwood, David Sawtell and Catherine Dobson and published by Law Brief Publishing.

    26 min

  5. 10/29/2025

    Paying Tax with Art

    What is Acceptance in Lieu of tax, and how does the AiL Scheme operate? Richard Harwood and Clarissa Levi are joined by AiL Panel Chair Michael Clarke, and Arts Council England Director of Cultural Property Sarah Posey. We discuss the benefits and hurdles of AiL, how it works best, and we dispel a misconception or two about the Scheme.

    38 min

  6. 10/08/2025

    World Heritage Sites

    Are there really 1248 sites with outstanding universal value? How does the World Heritage Convention work in practice? Richard Harwood and Clarissa Levi talk to Alexandra Warr, Head of International Strategy at Historic England about world heritage sites, international negotiations, development and Stonehenge.

    40 min

  7. 09/24/2025

    Funding our Heritage

    What do we value from our past, and how do we fund it? We discuss the impact of lottery funding on the UK’s heritage landscape, the additionality principle, and if we should celebrate a John Major Day. Insights from the heart of the heritage world with Dame Liz Forgan.

    22 min

  8. 09/17/2025

    Export of Works of Art

    Pippa Shirley joins Richard Harwood and Clarissa Levi to discuss the UK’s export controls for cultural objects. How does the Reviewing Committee for the Export of Works of Art operate? Who was Viscount Waverley, and are the 1952 Waverley Criteria still fit for purpose?  We talk about how export stops work, how to ensure the process is fair, and why outstanding ugliness is aesthetically important too.

    42 min
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About

Art, heritage and the odd bit of law. Richard Harwood KC, barrister of 39 Essex Chambers and Clarissa Levi, Art & Heritage Counsel at Wedlake Bell LLP discuss challenges and successes in the heritage and art world with guests from across the sector. For professionals, owners and the general listener, Clarissa and Richard ask: what is going on? what can be done? what are the stories behind the buildings, treasures and the cases?

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