Venice Biennale International Jury Resigns Days Before Opening Over Russia Participation

The entire international jury of the Venice Biennale resigned nine days before the May 9 inauguration, triggering cancellation of the ceremony and traditional prize announcements, after deciding not to consider countries whose leaders face International Criminal Court charges for crimes against humanity—specifically Russia and Israel. The controversy centers on Russia's return to the prestigious art exhibition for the first time since invading Ukraine, during which hundreds of Ukrainian artists have been killed and numerous museums destroyed. The Venice Biennale defended allowing Russia, arguing it owns its pavilion and the event rejects censorship, but the European Union withdrew two million Euros in funding and Italy's culture minister declared a boycott. Visitors will now vote on their favorite pavilions themselves instead of receiving jury-selected awards.

International Jury Resignation Over Russia and Israel Participation

• ▪The entire jury of the Venice Biennale resigned nine days before the inauguration of the art event
• ▪The Venice Biennale jury resigned amid growing tensions over the return of Russia for the first time since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine
• ▪The Venice Biennale inauguration ceremony on 9 May has been cancelled following the jury resignation
• ▪The Venice Biennale jury decided not to consider countries whose leaders are currently charged with crimes against humanity for any prizes, meaning Russia and Israel
• ▪The Venice Biennale jury was due to announce a series of prizes at the inauguration on 9 May

Controversy Over Russia's Return to the Biennale

• ▪Judges at the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israel's prime minister and former defence minister in 2024
• ▪The Russian pavilion at the Venice Biennale was left empty in 2022 after the curator and artists withdrew
• ▪In 2022, after Russia went to war against Ukraine, the curator and artists involved in the Russian pavilion withdrew in protest against Vladimir Putin and his invasion
• ▪In 2024, Russia handed the Venice Biennale pavilion space over to Bolivia
• ▪The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin, alleging Putin is responsible for war crimes
• ▪The Russian team at the Venice Biennale is due to exhibit a performance with sound called The Tree is Rooted in the Sky

Political and Financial Responses from Italy and the EU

• ▪In April, the European Union announced that it was pulling a two million Euro grant over Russia's return to the Venice Biennale
• ▪The European Union deemed Russia's return to the Venice Biennale as morally wrong because Moscow seeks to erase Ukrainian culture as part of its invasion
• ▪Giorgia Meloni stated that the Venice Biennale is autonomous and its president is very capable
• ▪Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said allowing Russia to take part in the Venice Biennale is a decision not shared by the Italian government

Perspective of European Union

• ▪The European Union withdrew two million Euros in funding to protest Russia's participation in the Venice Biennale
• ▪The European Union considers Russia's return to the Venice Biennale morally wrong due to Moscow's efforts to erase Ukrainian culture during its invasion

Perspective of Italian government

• ▪Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni does not share the decision to allow Russia to participate in the Venice Biennale