EU threatens Biennale funding

The European Union is moving to cut Venice Biennale funding after organizers let Russia reopen its national pavilion for the 2026 art exhibition. (politico.eu) European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on April 21 that “the EU intends to cut its funding” after a meeting of foreign ministers in Luxembourg. ARTnews reported the remark on April 22, describing it as Brussels’ strongest public warning yet to the Biennale. (politico.eu / artnews.com) The threat centers on a €2 million European Union grant tied to the 2028 Biennale, according to reporting on a letter sent by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency to Biennale president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco. That letter gave the foundation until May 11 to answer allegations tied to the Russian pavilion decision, two days after the public opening on May 9. (artnews.com / euronews.com) The dispute is about more than one building in Venice. The European Commission said on March 10 that allowing Russia back was “not compatible” with the bloc’s response to Russia’s war in Ukraine and said culture should not be used as a platform for propaganda. (ec.europa.eu) Russia has not shown in the Venice art biennale since 2019. Its pavilion stayed closed in 2022 after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the 61st International Art Exhibition now runs from May 9 to November 22, 2026, with previews on May 6, 7 and 8. (artnews.com / labiennale.org) The Biennale has defended the decision by saying any country recognized by Italy can have a pavilion and that it rejects “any form of exclusion or censorship of culture and art.” Organizers have also said no sanctions were violated and that they provided documentation to Italy’s culture ministry. (artnews.com / artnews.com) Pressure has come from several directions at once. Thirty-seven members of the European Parliament called on the European Commission to strip funding, and 22 European countries, including Ukraine, asked the Biennale to reconsider Russia’s participation. (artnews.com / repubblica.it) Ukraine has pushed hardest for exclusion, saying Russia uses culture as political influence while its forces attack Ukrainian cities and heritage sites. Finland has also scaled back its political participation at this year’s Biennale if the Russian pavilion goes ahead. (artnews.com / artnews.com) Italy’s government has tried to keep some distance from the fight. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the government disagreed with the Russian pavilion’s reopening but described the Biennale as an autonomous foundation rather than a state body. (repubblica.it) The immediate deadline is now May 11, when the Biennale must answer Brussels’ allegations or risk losing European Union money tied to a future edition. The exhibition still opens to the public on May 9, with Russia and Ukraine both on the program. (artnews.com / labiennale.org)