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Venice Biennale jury quits days before opening
The entire judging panel of the Venice Biennale resigned on Wednesday, just nine days before the prestigious art exhibition's inauguration, citing objections to Russia's return and Israel's participation.
Jury's statement
The seven-member jury said it was stepping down in line with its earlier decision not to award prizes to countries "whose leaders are currently charged with crimes against humanity." The statement singled out Russia and Israel.
"We cannot, in good conscience, consider nations under such charges for awards."
Political fallout
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni distanced her government from the decision to allow Russia's pavilion, calling it "not shared by the government." She added that the Biennale operates autonomously and praised its president as "very capable."
A delegation from Italy's culture ministry visited Venice on Tuesday to assess the reopening of the Russian pavilion, prompting Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano to announce he would boycott the event.
Funding and sanctions
The European Union withdrew a €2 million grant in April, calling Russia's participation "morally wrong" and accusing Moscow of attempting to "erase Ukrainian culture" through its invasion. The Biennale has maintained that it cannot exclude Russia because the country owns its pavilion.
Russia's return
In 2022, Russian artists and curators withdrew in protest against Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, leaving the pavilion empty. Last year, Russia handed the space to Bolivia. This year, the Russian team plans a sound performance titled The Tree is Rooted in the Sky, though reports suggest public access may be restricted.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Putin, alleging war crimes. Russia has dismissed the warrant as "outrageous."
Ukrainian cultural losses
Over the past four years, Ukraine has seen hundreds of artists killed, numerous museums destroyed, and cultural heritage sites looted by Russian forces. Italy's culture ministry is investigating whether Russia's participation violates sanctions.
Israel's exclusion
Israel's foreign ministry condemned the jury's decision to exclude it from prizes, calling it "a contamination of the art world." In 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israel's prime minister and former defense minister, alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Israel-Hamas war. Israel has rejected the allegations.
What happens next
The Biennale's opening ceremony, scheduled for 9 May, has been canceled. Instead, visitors will vote for their favorite pavilions. Organizers have not commented on whether the jury's resignation will affect other programming.
