Venice Biennale rift grows
Nearly 200 participating artists and curators signed an open letter demanding the Israeli pavilion be cancelled, with the Art Not Genocide Alliance and signatories like Alfredo Jaar and Yto Barrada leading the push. Separately, the EU publicly slammed Biennale leadership for allowing Russia’s return and Italy’s culture minister has called for a top official’s resignation — turning the exhibition into a major flashpoint this week. (theartnewspaper.com)(artnews.com)(brusselssignal.eu)(united24media.com)
ArtReview counted 182 Biennale participants as signatories of the ANGA letter delivered to La Biennale’s president and board on 17 March; other outlets reported slightly different totals (178), reflecting variations in the lists circulated. (artreview.com)) The Art Newspaper’s published list names additional signatories including Rosana Paulino, Meriem Bennani and Cauleen Smith, alongside curators Binna Choi and Carles Guerra. (theartnewspaper.com)) ANGA says it first sent an appeal to La Biennale on 2 October 2025 and warned then that failure to exclude Israel could trigger a wider boycott of the 2026 exhibition. (theartnewspaper.com)) Executive Vice‑President Henna Virkkunen and Culture Commissioner Glenn Micallef issued a joint statement saying the Commission will “examine further action, including the suspension or termination of an ongoing EU grant” if Russia takes part, and reporting outlets have put the grant at risk at roughly €2 million. (ec.europa.eu)) Italy’s culture minister Alessandro Giuli said he has lost confidence in Tamara Gregoretti and called for her to resign as the ministry’s representative on the Biennale board, accusing her of failing to notify the ministry about the possibility of Russia’s participation; Gregoretti has served in the role since March 2024, the ministry said. (artnews.com)) La Biennale’s published participant list confirms Russia’s project, titled The Tree Is Rooted in the Sky, will be presented under commissioner Anastasia Karneyeva and is billed as a series of sound performances involving more than 30 artists — the country’s first formal return to the pavilion since the disruptions of 2022. (artnews.com)) The 61st International Art Exhibition will run from 9 May to 22 November 2026, and Biennale materials note that Israel’s presentation will take place in the Arsenale rather than the Giardini while the Giardini remains closed for renovation. (labiennale.org))
