European Commission Tells Venice Biennale to ‘Clear Its Name’ Regarding Russian Pavilion or Risk Losing $2.3 M. Grant for 2028
The European Commission has given the Venice Biennale 30 days to address allegations that including a Russian Pavilion in the 2026 edition violates EU sanctions, warning it could suspend or terminate a €2 million ($2.3 million) grant intended for the 2028 Biennale. According to La Repubblica, the commission’s Education and Culture Executive Agency sent the letter to Biennale president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco on Friday, April 10, requiring a response by May 11, shortly after the Biennale’s public opening on May 9. The commission also sent a March 26 letter to Italy’s foreign ministry seeking its position, and the article reports the ministry is coordinating with the culture ministry ahead of an EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting on April 21 where Russia’s inclusion is on the agenda. The issue is also expected to arise during a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome, and Zelensky’s government has announced sanctions against five Russian cultural figures involved in the 2026 pavilion, including commissioner Anastasia Karneeva.
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This story was covered in Biennales in Flux, Institutions Under Pressure