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The Venice Art Biennale faces the prospect of having its EU funding cut due to the planned reopening of the Russian pavilion.<\/p>\n
“While Russia bombs museums, destroys churches and seeks to erase Ukrainian culture, it should not be allowed to exhibit its own. Russia’s return to the Venice Biennale is morally wrong, and also the EU intends to cut its funding,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Tuesday after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.<\/p>\n
Russia had previously announced, in consultation with the Biennale Foundation, that it would once again take part in the Venice-based exhibition of contemporary art this year and fill its pavilion with works by local artists.<\/p>\n
Ukraine, as well as numerous politicians from EU member states, are protesting against this.<\/p>\n
Russia’s participation in the exhibition, which begins on May 9, would be its first since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine more than four years ago.<\/p>\n
At the two previous Biennales, the Russian pavilion was not used. In 2022, the artists scheduled to take part withdrew at short notice in protest against the attack on the neighbouring country. In 2024, Moscow ceded the building to Bolivia.<\/p>\n
According to earlier reports from Brussels, the European Commission is currently providing the Biennale Foundation with a total \u20ac2 million over a three-year period. This funding is intended to support film producers and immersive technology.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n