European Commission confirms withdrawal of €2m grant to Venice Biennale over return of Russian pavilion
The European Commission has formally confirmed the withdrawal of a €2 million grant awarded to the Venice Biennale, an international art exhibition, for the 2025-2028 period.
Source: Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda
Details: The decision to withdraw the funding was taken following the reopening of the Russian pavilion at the Biennale.
The European Commission initiated the grant withdrawal procedure in April last year after Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, President of the Biennale Foundation, confirmed that the Russian pavilion would reopen for this year's exhibition.
At the first stage of the procedure, the Commission gave the Biennale Foundation 30 days either to abandon its plans or provide arguments capable of halting the grant withdrawal process.
The European Union subsequently requested additional official clarifications regarding the true nature of Russia's participation in the event.
Virkkunen has now announced that the European Commission has formally recommended that the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) terminate the grant awarded to the Venice Biennale.
Quote: "This follows a thorough assessment of the replies from the Biennale to justify the re-opening of Russia's pavilion.
Culture in Europe – funded with taxpayers' money – should promote and safeguard democratic values. These values are not respected in today's Russia."
Background:
- Over 20 European countries have called for Russia to be barred from participating in the Venice Biennale.
- Ukraine urged the organisers of the Venice Biennale to reconsider their decision regarding Russia's participation and maintain the principled stance they demonstrated between 2022 and 2024.
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