The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) has decided to terminate the current €2 million grant for Fondazione La Biennale di Venezia after the Russian pavilion resumed operations this spring at the Venice Biennale in a limited format.
This was reported by Yevropeyska Pravda, citing European Commission spokesperson Tom Renier.
The decision was taken following a legal assessment and a recommendation from the European Commission.
“Cultural events funded by European taxpayers’ money must uphold democratic values and promote open dialogue, diversity, and freedom of expression—values that are not respected in today’s Russia,” Renier said.
In July, the European Commission recommended that EACEA terminate the Venice Biennale’s €2 million grant in connection with the decision to allow the Russian pavilion to open for the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The grant-cancellation procedure was launched by the European Commission after a statement by Biennale Foundation President Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, who confirmed that the Russian pavilion would be reopened at this year’s exhibition.
At the first stage, the Commission gave the Biennale Foundation thirty days, either to abandon its intentions or to provide arguments capable of halting the grant-cancellation process.
The European Union then demanded additional official clarifications regarding the true nature of Russia’s participation in the event.
Overall, more than 20 European countries called for Russia not to be allowed to take part in the Venice Biennale.
Ukraine urged the Venice Biennale’s organizers to reconsider the decision on the participation of the Russian Federation and to maintain the principled stance demonstrated in 2022–2024.