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"The beginning is the most important part of the work." - Plato 

Art Legacy Institute has been beginning for 20 years.

The Art Legacy Institute was established by former members of the FBI Art Crime Team, driven by their passion for art and artists. The Art Crime Team came into existence in 2004. During its initial two decades, it was not unusual to witness millions, and sometimes even billions, of dollars' worth of fake art infiltrating the market. In our efforts to safeguard artistic heritage, we identified several unmet needs. The Art Legacy Institute was founded to address these needs, aiming to educate artists, collectors, and institutions, and to create an organization dedicated solely to supporting artists and preserving their legacy.

What Next?
  • On November 7, 2024, we filed a request for tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service.
  • If the IRS approves our request for expedited review, we could receive a determination as soon as January 2025. Otherwise, we expect a successful determination by the second quarter of 2025.
  • In 2025, our primary goal will be to establish a strong foundation. There is much to accomplish, and we appreciate your support.
How will ALI help protect artistic legacy?

  • We are committed to educating artists, collectors, institutions, and the general public on safeguarding artistic legacy.
  • We are creating a system for artists to document their body of work. When there are gaps in an artist's oeuvre, it provides opportunities for fraudsters.
  • We are developing state-of-the-art technology to record provenance, as the best provenance begins with the artist.
  • We aim to establish a library of exemplars for historians, researchers, and other institutions focused on preserving artistic legacy.
  • We will continuously explore new ways to enhance the protection of artistic legacy.