Students Explore the Intersection of Law, Art, and Culture in Siena

Each summer, Tulane Law students can study in one of the world’s most stunning cultural landscapes—Siena, Italy—through a one-of-a-kind academic program that brings international law and cultural heritage into direct conversation. 

 The Siena Program is one of the only programs in the world offering an in-depth exploration of how international law interacts with the protection of art and cultural property. Now in its decades-long partnership with the University of Siena, the program draws law students and professionals from across the globe to study issues that sit at the heart of cultural identity and history. 

 While traditional classes are held, the true classroom is Siena itself. Field trips, museum visits, and conversations with local experts immerse students in real-world legal and ethical questions about art, antiquities, and cultural identity. 

 For Tulane Law students, the program builds on the school’s strength in international and comparative law and offers rich exposure to a growing and globally significant area of legal practice. But Tulane students are not the only ones to benefit from the experience, nor are they the only ones enriching the classroom. 

 The program brings together participants from a wide range of countries and disciplines: lawyers, museum professionals, classicists, graduate students in art history and anthropology. This diversity fuels thoughtful dialogue and collaborative learning, something Tulane students gain immensely from. 

 “There are wonderful Tulane Law students, but also students in master’s programs in international studies or museum studies, and people with backgrounds in art history, finance, and transactional law,” said Dana Tacker, a practicing attorney from Oklahoma City who is opening up her own practice. “All of that adds so much to the discussion.” 

 That multidisciplinary mix is intentional. The program is designed to remove disciplinary silos, fostering conversations that go beyond legal theory. For John Freeman, a recent Princeton graduate now working at a law firm in Chicago, the program has sparked new possibilities. 

 “There’s a very good chance I could go into art law,” he said. “I studied classics in undergrad and that really gave me a deep appreciation for antiquities and these types of conversations happening around them, and the legal aspect is an important part of that conversation. I think that would be a great way to combine my interests and explore this world.” 

 As Tulane continues to expand global learning opportunities for its students, the Siena Program remains a cornerstone, combining rigorous legal education with immersive cultural experiences and diverse perspectives from around the world.