EU Commission Recommends Cancelation of Venice Biennale Grant over Russian Pavilion
The European Commission recommended canceling a €2 million grant to the Venice Biennale, citing Russia’s participation in the event, according to an ARTnews report updated on July 13, 2026. Russia had not staged a pavilion since 2022, when it invaded Ukraine, and the 2026 pavilion drew protests during the Biennale, including from Pussy Riot; organizers said they would close the exhibition shortly after the opening. European Commission leader Henna Virkkunen wrote on X on July 11 that EU taxpayer-funded culture should safeguard democratic values “not respected in today’s Russia,” while Italy’s Lega Nord criticized what it called “Brussels diktats,” and the Kremlin told TASS it regretted attempts to “cancel our culture.” The Biennale said it learned of the decision via X, is awaiting formal technical communication from the relevant agency, and that the affected programs would continue because they are only marginally co-financed by the EU contribution.
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This story was covered in Restitution Reckonings and Museum Scandals Unravel