The European Commission withdrew funding after the biennale refused to exclude Russia from the event, citing concerns about normalizing the country's international presence.
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The European Education and Culture Executive Agency has suspended a €2 million grant to the Venice Biennale following the biennale's decision to include Russia in the event, authorities said Tuesday.
The European Commission confirmed the funding withdrawal after recommending the agency review the matter. A spokesperson for the Commission stated that the decision was made based on legal assessment and the Commission's recommendation.
The biennale's inclusion of Russia in its current edition has drawn significant controversy. The decision to invite both Russia and Israel to participate prompted multiple national and international protests. The entire jury of the competition resigned in response to the invitations.
The biennale's organizing foundation declined requests to exclude Russia from the event, leading to the funding suspension. Officials said European funds cannot support platforms that provide opportunities for countries to normalize their presence in the international cultural space.
Ukraine's Vice Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture, Tetiana Berezhna, commented on the decision in a statement. She emphasized that Russia's participation in international cultural events is unacceptable and that culture cannot become a tool for whitewashing aggression or legitimizing war crimes.
Berezhna noted that a state responsible for killing artists, destroying museums, theaters, libraries, and churches, and stealing cultural valuables cannot use culture to address its own actions. She expressed gratitude for the European Commission's decision to suspend the funding.
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