The European Commission is threatening to withdraw its funding of the Venice Biennale after Russia was allowed to return for the first time since the invasion of Ukraine. The Biennale's organizing committee, led by chairman Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, announced last week that Russia is welcome again at the prestigious art exhibition, which opens on May 9. The motivation is that the exhibition is an open institution that rejects all forms of exclusion or censorship of art.
The European Commission strongly condemns the decision as not compatible with the EU's collective response to Russia's brutal aggression. In a press release, EU commissioners responsible for democracy and culture wrote that Brussels will review further measures including termination of an ongoing three-year grant worth 2 million euros.
The exhibition is an open institution that rejects all forms of exclusion or censorship of art.
Brussels will review further measures including termination of an ongoing three-year grant worth 2 million euros.