European Union Officially Pulls €2m Venice Biennale Funding over Russian Participation
The funding pause follows a legal review that said the Russian Pavilion could help spread Russia-backed messages and bypass EU sanctions, officials said.
- On Tuesday, The European Union officially suspended its €2 million grant to the Venice Biennale following a review of The Russian Pavilion's inclusion in the official program.
- In April, the European Commission gave the Biennale 30 days to 'clear its name' regarding Russia's participation, stating the pavilion could serve as a platform for messages sponsored by Russia.
- The Biennale has repeatedly stated it cannot remove Russia due to its permanent structure in the Giardini, maintaining that it has not violated European Union sanctions by allowing the exhibition.
- Although The Russian Pavilion remains closed after opening during preview days, protests over the inclusion of Russia and Israel marked the festival's start despite the European Commission focusing solely on Russia.
- A European Commission spokesperson said in Brussels that cultural projects must uphold democratic values, which are 'not respected in today's Russia,' justifying the funding suspension representing a fraction of the festival's budget.
86 Articles
86 Articles
The Venice Biennale will undermine its autonomy and freedom of expression if it succumbs to pressure from the European Union to exclude Russia from its events.
The Russian pavilion, closed since 2022 and the invasion in Ukraine, made its return at the 2026 edition of this great event of contemporary art in the world. In reaction, the EU announced on Tuesday that it was cutting its subsidy.
EU Punishes Venice Biennale for Allowing Russian Art
The European Commission has withdrawn a €2 million grant from the Venice Biennale after Russia returned to the prestigious Italian art exhibition this year for the first time since its invasion of Ukraine. The funding was formally canceled on July 21 by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency following a legal review and a recommendation from the Commission, the European Union’s executive branch. EU officials argued that cultural eve…
Biennale Chief Slams EU for Withdrawing Funding Over Russia’s Presence at Art Exhibition During Film Festival Press Conference: ‘They Are Abandoning Us’
Venice Biennale chairman Pietrangelo Buttafuoco slammed the European Union at the film festival press conference on Thursday for withdrawing a €2 million ($2.3 million) grant in response to Russia’s participation in the Biennale’s arts exhibition this year. It was the first time the country has returned to the event since the invasion of Ukraine in […]
The European Union removes two million at the Biennale and gives six billion in six months to Putin. It is the hard attack of the president of the Venice Biennale Pietrangelo Buttafuoco to the European Commission during the press conference of presentation of the 83/a International Film Art Exhibition, scheduled at the Venice Lido from 2 to 12 September. Buttafuoco [...] L'articolo Biennale Venezia, Buttafuoco against the European Union: "Ci tak…
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