The European Commission has launched a procedure to potentially freeze or fully withdraw funding for the Venice Biennale due to the decision to open a Russian pavilion. The organisers have been given 30 days to formally explain their position. If no changes are made, the institution could lose a €2 million grant planned through 2028. This was reported by La Repubblica.
The warning was issued by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) to the president of the Biennale, Pietrangelo Buttafuoco.
Although the Venice Biennale is an independent institution, part of its funding depends on European programmes, which gives the EU leverage.
Against this backdrop, 50 members of the Venice Institute of Sciences, Literature and Arts published an open letter to Biennale president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, calling for the exclusion of official Russian participation.
Among the signatories are scholars and intellectuals from various fields, including the initiator of the appeal, Lorenzo Fellin. “We ask you to take all possible measures aimed at blocking the announced unilateral official participation of the current government of Russia in the Biennale, in particular out of cultural solidarity with numerous Russian artists unjustly imprisoned, and in respect for the memory of many Ukrainian artists who now rest in cemeteries after the destruction caused by Russia in Bucha, Mariupol, Sumy,” the letter states.
Russia’s participation in the 61st International Art Exhibition, scheduled to open on 9 May, is being interpreted in Brussels as a potential sanctions violation. It is argued that state-funded participation could be used to promote narratives of international legitimacy for Russian culture.
The situation has already caused diplomatic tensions between EU institutions and the Italian side, as well as internal disagreements within Giorgia Meloni’s government.