The European Commission has formalized a stop to funds to the Venice Biennale for allowing Russia to reopen its pavilion, closed since 2022. The news, which was anticipated a few days ago by La Repubblica, was confirmed today by Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier, when asked about an update on concrete steps already taken by Brussels: “I can confirm that the Education and Culture Executive Agency (Eacea) has sent a letter informing the Fondazione La Biennale di Venezia of our intention to suspend or revoke an ongoing grant of €2 million,” adding that “the Commission had also sent a letter to the Italian government in March. As mentioned above, the Commission condemns the Fondazione Biennale’s decision to allow Russia to participate in the 2026 Venice Art Biennale.”
“Cultural events funded with European taxpayers’ money,” Regnier stressed, “should safeguard democratic values, promote open dialogue, diversity and freedom of expression, values that are not respected in today’s Russia.”
The official letter from theExecutive Agency for Education and Culture, an articulation of the Commission, sent to the president of Fondazione La Biennale di Venezia, Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, stressed that the Venetian institution would have 30 days to clarify its position or back down, otherwise it would lose the two million euro grant for a period of three years.
La Biennale di Venezia had replied that it would express “in due time and terms its reasons, certain that it had not violated any rules and that it had acted in full compliance with the agreement in place with the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) of the European Commission.” The cultural institution had then confirmed “that it had acted in strict compliance with applicable national and international laws and within the limits of its competencies, responsibilities and purposes.”
|
| Venice Biennale, European Commission formalizes funding halt. Reopening of Russian pavilion under indictment |
Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.
IT
FR
DE
ES
CN