Obscene publications are governed by the Obscene Publications Act 1959 and the Obscene Publications Act 1964.
Obscene Publications
read more
CATEGORY: Art and the Law
Testing artistic freedom of expression in UK courts
There are few recent legal cases involving freedom of artistic expression in the UK.
Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti on Behzti
The playwright Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti found herself in the eye of a storm that had profound effects on her personally and on theatre as a whole.
Charging for police protection of the arts
Policing is a core function of the state, and it has long been accepted that our taxes pay for police services. The role of the police naturally...
Between art and exploitation
In the United States, Australia and Britain a handful of art museums and galleries have come under scrutiny for displaying photographs of children.
Julia Farrington: Pre-emptive censorship by the police is a clear infringement of civil liberties
In 1972, Michael Scammell, first editor of Index on Censorship magazine wrote in the first edition – “Freedom of expression is not self-perpetuating, but needs to be maintained by the constant vigilance of those who care about it.” We obviously haven’t been very vigilant here in the UK
Index condemns removal of artwork from Passion for Freedom exhibition
We need to do more to ensure that police work with venues to promote freedom of expression, not stifle it
The arts, the law and freedom of speech
Police involvement in the cancellation this week of a National Youth Theatre production highlights again the difficult legal challenges for arts organisations putting on contentious work. Can a new set of guidelines help?
Spiritual America 2014
Spiritual America 2014 Xenofon Kavvadias As part of Index on Censorship’s programme looking into art, law and offence in the UK, this case study...
The Siege
Throughout Index on Censorship’s Art and the Law information packs, the lawyers who wrote them stress that the packs offer guidance only and are not...
“The law is no less conceptual than fine art”
"The law is no less conceptual than fine art" Exhibition of Illegal Books by Xenofon Kavvadias 10 Vyner Street London E8 5th May - 17th June 2011...
Policing the picket of Exhibit B
This is an account of the policing of the demonstration organised by Boycott the Human Zoo Campaign on the opening night of Brett Bailey’s theatrical installation Exhibit B presented by the Barbican at the Vaults Waterloo.
Art and the Law provides guidance to artists and arts organisations creating controversial art about the legal framework in England and Wales. The guides deal with five areas: Child Protection, Counter Terror, Obscene Publications, Public Order, and Race and Religion. Learn more.
