EU to cut funding to Venice Biennale over Moscow's presence at this year's exhibition: 'Russia's return is immoral'
The biennale has defended its decision to invite Russia, for the first time since the start of the large-scale invasion in 2022, arguing that it remains a space for dialogue where art is separated from politics, writes Politico. EU officials disagree.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Tuesday that the European Union plans to cut funding to the Venice Biennale, following a decision by the art exhibition's organizers to readmit Russian artists to the 2026 edition.
“While Russia is bombing museums, destroying churches and trying to erase Ukrainian culture, it should not be allowed to expose its own culture,” Kallas said after a meeting of EU foreign ministers.
“Russia's return to the Venice Biennale is immoral and the EU plans to cut its funding,” she said.
Kallas made the remark in passing during a news conference focused largely on Ukraine, where he also discussed military and financial support for Kiev, new sanctions and efforts to counter Russian disinformation.
The Venice Biennale, one of the world's leading art exhibitions, is set to host Russia for the first time since its large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a decision that has sparked widespread criticism across Europe.
The intention to invite Russia was also criticized by Giorgia Meloni's government. The biennale defended its decision, arguing that it remains a space for dialogue where art is separated from politics.
Kiev in turn criticized the decision.
Latvian Culture Minister Agnese Lāce, who led a joint position of 25 European countries calling for Russia's exclusion, said she would boycott the opening of the Biennale on May 9 if Moscow attended.
In a statement, Latvia's Ministry of Culture argued that allowing Russia to participate would give “legitimacy through an important European cultural platform supported by European funds” to a sanctioned aggressor state and warned that people linked to the flag have ties to Russian state structures and pro-Kremlin discourse.
In a letter to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Kallas, 37 MEPs also urged the EU to suspend the funding, estimated at around €2m over three years, and to consider taking restrictive measures against people with links to the Russian flag.
