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Europe Cancels Venice Biennale Funding Over Russia’s Return
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- European authorities canceled a multiyear grant worth 2 million euros to the Venice Biennale due to Russia's participation, citing inconsistency with European values amid the war in Ukraine.
- The European Commission emphasized that cultural events funded by European taxpayers must uphold democratic values, which it stated are not respected in Russia today.
- Russia was absent from the 2022 and 2024 Biennales but returned in 2024 by lending its pavilion to Bolivia, with the pavilion open only during preview week and facing protests.
- The Venice Biennale stated the canceled grant was unrelated to Russia’s participation and that the funding loss would not significantly impact the event.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned the funding cancellation as an attempt to "cancel" Russian culture, calling it a sad development.
