Italy culture minister skips Biennale opening

Italy’s culture minister Alessandro Giuli said he will not attend the opening of the 61st Venice Biennale because Russia is returning with a national pavilion. (artnews.com) Italy’s Culture Ministry said Giuli will neither travel to Venice during the May 6-8 preview days nor attend the opening ceremony on May 9. The Biennale runs from May 9 to Nov. 22 at the Giardini, the Arsenale and other Venice sites. (artnews.com) (labiennale.org) Russia has not taken part in the Biennale since 2022, the year it invaded Ukraine. Its return this year was approved by Biennale president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, according to multiple reports. (artreview.com) (euronews.com) A separate dispute erupted last week when the Biennale’s five-member international jury said it would not consider for awards countries whose leaders are charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court. The statement was signed by jury chair Solange Farkas and jurors Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma and Giovanna Zapperi. (e-flux.com) (labiennale.org) That rule effectively removes Russia and Israel from Golden Lion and Silver Lion prize consideration, even though the jury statement did not name either country. Reuters and other outlets said the move pointed to International Criminal Court cases involving Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu. (straitstimes.com) (jta.org) The Biennale itself said the jury acts independently and that its members chose to publish their position on their own. That response left the institution trying to separate the exhibition’s formal governance from the jurors’ political stance. (jiji.com) The 2026 exhibition is proceeding after the death of curator Koyo Kouoh, whose show, “In Minor Keys,” the Biennale said it would carry out with the support of her family. This year’s edition includes 110 invited participants. (labiennale.org 1) (labiennale.org 2) Giuli’s boycott means one of Italy’s top cultural officials will be absent when the awards are handed out on opening day. The opening week now arrives with the exhibition facing disputes over Russia’s presence and the jury’s prize ban at the same time. (artnews.com) (labiennale.org)