Jury of Venice Biennale resigns after scandal over Russian pavilion

Six members of the international jury of the Venice Biennale, an international art exhibition, along with its president Solange Oliveira Farkas, have resigned following a scandal over the participation of Russia and Israel.

Source: European Pravda, citing the press service for the Venice Biennale

Details: All six jury members, together with Farkas, stepped down after a visit by inspectors from the Italian Ministry of Culture.

The decision was made after a meeting between committee members and the president of the Venice Biennale, Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, amid weeks of tension surrounding the opening of the Russian pavilion at the exhibition and the presence of Israeli artists.

The decision to allow Russia to participate in the exhibition sparked strong reactions worldwide and within Italy itself.

Background:

• Italy's Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli said he would not attend the opening of the 61st Venice Biennale in protest against the presence of the Russian pavilion.
• More than 20 European countries have called for Russia to be excluded from the Venice Biennale.
• In response to the presence of the Russian pavilion, the European Union has officially terminated a three-year grant worth €2 million for the Venice Biennale.
• Meanwhile, Ukraine has urged the organisers of the Venice Biennale to reconsider their decision regarding Russia's participation and to uphold the principled stance demonstrated in 2022–2024.

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