What does a Chief Curator do, and what goes on behind the scenes at an art gallery?

Richard Harwood KC and Clarissa Levi are joined by Imogen Gibbon of National Galleries of Scotland to discuss making art work for everyone, whether it's on display or not; with detours via Scottish fisheries, silver bands, curling and the dangers of dressing neatly.

We often talk of the historic interest in buildings, but what does that mean to the historian? How does art help understand our past? Richard Harwood KC and Clarissa Levi from BHL Art Group talk to Dr Elizabeth Norton, a historian specialising in the Queens of England and the Tudor period, and the author of a number of highly readable books, including ‘The Lives of Tudor Women’ and ‘The Temptation of Elizabeth Tudor’. We discuss walking the ground, Jane Seymour’s necklaces, what television dramas and films get right, and why archaeological consultants should be punching the air in delight.

Dr Anna Keay, Director of The Landmark Trust, joins Richard and Clarissa to discuss the origins of Landmark, how its buildings are saved, what they mean to us to us, and to describe two exciting current projects to rescue and restore historic buildings.

Donate and help save RAF Ibsley Watch Office Appeal: HERE.

In her book 'Caring for Cultural Heritage', Dr Charlotte Woodhead explores the legal and ethical initiatives in the UK for caring for cultural heritage. Richard and Clarissa discuss ethics of care and the appropriate care for our heritage with Charlotte.

The historic buildings charity SAVE Britain’s Heritage is 50 years old in 2025. Richard Harwood KC and Clarissa Levi talk to Henrietta Billings, the Director of SAVE, talks about its work and how to save and revitalise heritage buildings. From fishing docks to country houses, and the birthplace of one of The Beatles, Henrietta discusses SAVE’s rescues and climate change, retrofitting and Marks & Spencer.

SAVE Britain’s Heritage’s work and details of its 50th anniversary programme are available here.

How does Artificial Intelligence affect art and cultural institutions? Richard and Clarissa talk to Emily Gould, Assistant Director of the Institute of Art and Law, to discuss the use of creative works for training generative AI; who owns rights to AI produced works; and the use of AI in art attribution. They try their hands at AI-produced art themselves, with slightly worrying results.

What are gasholders and how do we mark engineering heritage when technology moves on? Professor Russell Thomas, Technical Director of WSP, and Timur Tatlioglu, Partner and Head of Montagu Evans’ Historic Environment and Townscape Team, discuss the past, present and future of these iconic structures. Russell and Timur are the editors of a new book, Gasholders: A History in Pictures, with the assistance of National Grid and Historic England.

The Acceptance in Lieu scheme allows Inheritance Tax to be paid with art. Richard and Clarissa talk to Professor Frances Fowle of the University of Edinburgh and Scottish National Galleries. They discuss an important collection of paintings, heritage strategy and an unusual application of the AiL Scheme.

How does Ireland deal with treasure? What does a Stratocaster guitar tell us about tax? What does the Irish experience teach us about the legacies of Empire?

Richard and Clarissa chat to Martin Bradley is a barrister in Ireland and qualified archivist with over 25 years’ experience working in the art and cultural heritage sector. He is the author of a new book Art & Cultural Heritage Law: A Practical Guide. It focuses on the law in Ireland, but brings in International law and cases in other jurisdictions, including England and the United States of America.

What was it to be a pilgrim? How has pilgrimage continued over the centuries and how authentic are our modern pilgrim ways? Richard Harwood KC of 39 Essex Chambers and Clarissa Levi of BHL Art Group chat to Dr Emma Wells. Emma is a heritage consultant in the private sector. Her book 'Pilgrim Routes of the British Isles' has just been published in paperback.

What is it like to work in the art world? Richard and Clarissa talk to Alice Minter of the Victoria & Albert Museum about moving from working in an auction house to becoming a museum curator. Alice shares her passion for her work, describes its joys and challenges, and offers advice for those considering a career in the art world.

What became of the art once owned by Jewish collectors in Nazi Europe? Restitution expert Richard Aronowitz explains his work in provenance research in the commercial art world, finding “just and fair solutions” for looted art.

It’s good to talk. Richard Harwood KC and Clarissa Levi chat with barrister and mediator Kelly Stricklin-Coutinho of 39 Essex Chambers about how mediation works, and its role in commercial and institutional art disputes. From private disputes to the repatriation of human remains, they look at the role of a third person to facilitate the resolution of disputes. Kelly is the chair of the Civil Mediation Council. The CMC promotes mediation, and holds a register of mediators. It is the recognised authority in England and Wales for all matters related to civil, commercial, workplace and other non-family mediation.

What do we mean by antiquities, and what is Treasure? Richard and Clarissa are joined by expert Judith Nugée who explains why antiquities so capture the imagination, the importance of provenance, the fascinating world of detectorism and what we can learn from the ancient objects we find.

The work of restoring Syria’s cultural heritage after years of wartime looting goes beyond the antiquities trade. Richard Harwood KC and Clarissa Levi talk to intelligence expert Anwar Darkazally of Field Intelligence about how thefts and looting can be stopped, and wounds inflicted by the conflict healed along the way. We discuss the work of Jonah X Projects.

What are the joys and challenges of life in a castle? Richard and Clarissa speak with Charles Berkeley of Berkeley Castle about combining a family home and business, and looking to the future after nine centuries of castle life.

What are the Parthenon Marbles? Were they lawfully removed from the Acropolis in Athens by Lord Elgin’s agents in the early Nineteenth Century? What ethical issues arise by their retention at the British Museum? How might the dispute be resolved?

Richard and Clarissa talk to Alexander Herman, Director of the Institute of Art and Law, about his brilliant new book The Parthenon Marbles Dispute, which is the first title in Hart Publishing’s new Art Law Library. Alex’s other book, Restitution: The Return of Cultural Artefacts is also available.

Museum exhibitions are creatures of business…” Richard and Clarissa talk to Anthony Misquitta of the V&A and Keystone Law. They discuss what makes an exhibition a success, and the commercial importance of exhibitions to the museum world. Featuring plywood, revolution, and Taylor Swift.

Most of Britain’s heritage is cared for by private owners. Richard and Clarissa talk to Ben Cowell OBE, the Director General of Historic Houses. They discuss the threats to country houses and their safeguarding over the last 50 years, fueled by entrepreneurial owners and fiscal measures.

Ben’s new book The British Country House Revival is published in May 2024.

Richard and Clarissa introduce their new series, Art and Heritage Law: Contested Heritage, focusing on the complexities of heritage and art law through insightful conversations with leading industry voices.

How is the viability of a heritage project considered? When do the numbers stack up?

Richard and Clarissa talk to David Tomback OBE FRICS, the Development Economics Director of Historic England about optimum viable use, enabling development and climate change. As well as Modern Movement houses, restaurants and wedding venues …

Gripped by the nation's annual tennis fever, Richard Harwood KC and Clarissa Levi turn to heritage tennis with Robert Dolman. Robert explains Real Tennis from the recreation of monks to the sport of Kings, and describes the important cultural and built heritage left to us by this historic game. The podcast team plays to the gallery.

The restoration of the Great Hall and Hogarth Staircase at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in the City of London is one of the most exciting conservation projects presently underway. Richard Harwood KC and Clarissa Levi talk to Will Palin, Chief Executive Officer of Barts Heritage, about the project, the health benefits of heritage and a mediation which resolved a planning judicial review.

More information about the project, tours of the works and the new book, St Bartholomew’s Hospital 900 Years, are available from Barts Heritage

Barts Heritage: https://url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/zvW7CMQ8ycxBjn4IwPF29?domain=bartsheritage.org.uk/

How do we value a work of art? What makes one object sell for millions when a similar object doesn't sell at all? And is that really what those objects are worth? Richard and Clarissa chat with art expert Frances Christie about the alchemy of art valuation and the merits of applying duct tape to a banana.

When is an artwork part of a building or land? Or can you just take the statue with you when you sell up? Dr David Sawtell, barrister at 39 Essex Chambers, talks to Richard Harwood KC and Clarissa Levi from BHL Art Group about Henry Moore sculpture in London’s East End, statues of Greek athletes, tapestries and heirs behaving badly.

David is the co-author with Richard Harwood and Catherine Dobson of ‘Contested Heritage’ and of books on the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 and the Technology and Construction Court.

Funfairs, rollercoasters and ’99 ice creams. Richard and Clarissa talk to leading planning consultant Nick Laister of Laister Planning, about the ups and downs of seaside amusement parks, including the rescue of Margate’s Dreamland. They also chat about Nick’s own visitor attraction, the very special Fairytale Farm.

How do lawyers relax? Richard Harwood KC and Clarissa Levi chat to Stephen Tromans KC, one of the country’s leading environmental lawyers, about his painting and his works exhibited at 39 Essex Chambers.

The catalogues for two of the collections discussed in the interview can be viewed here: Elemental and Golgotha

Elemental: https://www.39essex.com/events/private-viewing-elemental-exhibition-environmentally-themed-paintings-stephen-tromans-kc

Golgotha: https://www.39essex.com/events/private-viewing-golgotha-2022-exhibition-stephen-tromans-kc-invasion-ukraine

Stephen’s paintings and sketches are also available on his Instagram @stephentromansart