My name is Noah Charney, and I am the Director of ARCA, the Association for Research into Crimes against Art. A number of colleagues suggested that I write to NAFAE, as you might be interested in one of ARCA's new programs. ARCA is an international non-profit think tank and research group, working to study art crime. We have established a new independent Masters Program, based in Italy, at which students and professionals can study art crime and cultural property protection--the first such program in the world.

We are trying to disseminate information about the program, and would be pleased if you might consider informing your constituency about our program, and perhaps recommending it to individuals who might be particularly interested in applying. I've included information on the program below, with much more information available on our website, www.artcrime.info

Thank you for your time, and best wishes,
Noah Charney
Director, ARCA

MA Program in Art Crime Studies

ARCA (The Association for Research into Crimes against Art) is pleased to announce a new Masters Program in the study of art crime and cultural property protection. The first Masters Program in International Art Crime Studies, this program will provide in-depth instruction in a wide variety of theoretical and practical elements of art crime: its history, its nature, its impact, and what can be done to curb it.

Courses are taught by international experts, in the beautiful setting of Umbria, Italy. Topics include art history and the art trade, museums and conservation, art security and policing, criminology and criminal investigation, law and policy, and the study of art theft, antiquities looting, war looting, forgery and deception, vandalism, and cultural heritage protection throughout history and around the world. It is the ideal program for art police and security professionals, art lawyers, insurers, curators, members of the art trade, and post-graduate students of criminology, law, security studies, sociology, art history, archaeology, and history.

Format and Schedule

This interdisciplinary program will be taught by twelve visiting lecturers, each lecturing for two week clusters within their given fields of expertise related to the study of art crime. The program includes many more lecture hours than a standard 9-month long MA program (over 300 lecture hours and over 70 seminar hours), but will condense the lectures into three months (with the dissertation in a subsequent three). This format permits students and professionals to undertake this program of study over the course of one summer, either during a hiatus from work or between other academic programs.

Faculty and Courses

Art History
Professors David Simon and Veronique Plesch, Colby College Conservation, Connoisseurship, & Museums Dr Patricia Garland, Senior Conservator, Yale Art Gallery

Criminology
Professor Matjaz Jager, Director of the Institute of Criminology at the Law Faculty, University of Ljubljana

Introduction to the Art World
Dr Tom Flynn, Art Historian and Art Writer

Archaeology & Antiquities: Crime, Trade, & Protection
Dr Derek Fincham, Loyola University

Art Crime & Its History
Noah Charney, Art Historian, Art Writer, and Director of ARCA

Criminalistics: Organized Crime & Art Investigation
Professor Bojan Dobovsek, University of Maribor, Faculty of Criminal Justice

Art Policing & Investigation
Richard Ellis, Security Advisor and Former Director, Scotland Yard Arts and

Antiques Unit Organization of Art Crime: Villains in Art and Artful Villains
Professor Petrus van Duyne, Faculty of Criminology, University of Tilburg

International Comparative Art Law, Policy, & Policing
James William Hess, Esq.

Forgery & Deception in the Art World
Professor Travis McDade, Library Administration, University of Illinois College of Law

Art Protection: Museums, Security, and Handling
Anthony Amore, Director of Security, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

The first program will be held 25 May 2009-31 Aug 2009 in the city of Amelia, Italy, about one hour outside of Rome. No more than thirty students will be accepted.

For more information, and to download a complete Prospectus or Application, please visit www.artcrime.info/education or email ma@artcrime.info.
The deadline for applications for the summer 2009 program is 1 Dec 2008.