Undoubtedly, the roles of experts and expertise in the worlds of art and heritage are changing. A number of recent developments affect these changes, e.g. the globalization and boom of art markets, as well as mounting uncertainty about experts’ liabilities when it comes to the authentication and evaluation of art works. In the wake of such developments, established types and standards of expertise are re-evaluated, re-interpreted and re-appropriated. Moreover, new norms and forms of expertise gain relevance. Think of, for instance, the digitalization of art and heritage practices and the rise of the amateur, or the partial substitution of institutional academic knowledge claims by marketing and communications tactics.

The purpose of this conference was to bring together different perspectives on the changing roles of experts in art and heritage worlds with a focus on legal, economic, and art-historical expertise. In particular, we aim to provide a trans-disciplinary forum for debate about relevant assemblages of value: In art and heritage worlds, past and present, who are the trusted experts and what characterizes their authority and legitimacy to valorize selected objects and practices of art and heritage? What precisely are the values that these experts create and negotiate – and what is the value of their expertise? In other words, how do experts and how does expertise assemble value when it comes to art and heritage?

Convened towards the end of The European Fine Art Fair in Maastricht, the MACCH Kick-Off conference began with a keynote lecture, and panel discussion on Sunday afternoon, the 22nd of March 2015 followed by a reception. Panels and paper presentations were scheduled on Monday the 23rd of March 2015.

Organisers:

• Prof. Dr. Hildegard Schneider, Faculty of Law
• Prof. Dr. Renée van de Vall, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
• Prof. Dr. Rachel Pownall, School of Business and Economics
• Dr. Vivian van Saaze, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
• Dr. Christoph Rausch, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences
• Dr. Joop de Jong, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences