Networking Opportunities for Cultural Property Crime Professionals

• In Event: Roundtable: Advancing Research and Collaboration in Cultural Property Crime

Abstract

Several academic disciplines, law enforcement agencies, non-profits, and non-governmental organizations employ professionals working to prevent crimes involving cultural property. While each individual develops their own professional network, an ongoing, cohesive discussion across these groups is sorely lacking. Thus, the impact of the work of individuals extends only as far as their own network or agency. If a platform was in place that specifically served those studying issues related to cultural property crime, then the work of individuals in the field could have greater influence. Additionally, with more people taking an interest in these issues, having a firmly established association allows for cross-disciplinary consultations, encourages more creative solutions, and provides more opportunities to pursue research related to cultural property crime. There has been a call for a professional association that would serve as a better networking tool for cultural property crime professionals, but so far that need has not been met. This discussion seeks to propose how such an association could be established and the stakeholders who would be interested, in order to garner feedback with regard to what needs they would expect to be met and the ways in which they view such an association could be beneficial.

Author

• Kate Melody Burmon, Northeastern University