DistantNews
Support us
EU cuts funding for Venice Biennale over Russia's participation
🇩🇪 Germany /Culture & Society

EU cuts funding for Venice Biennale over Russia's participation

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • The EU has ended its financial support for the Venice Biennale due to Russia's participation.
  • A spokesperson stated that EU-funded cultural projects must uphold democratic values like open dialogue and freedom of expression, which are not respected in present-day Russia.
  • Russia is participating in the art exhibition for the first time since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with its pavilion remaining closed but featuring an outdoor installation.

The European Union has ceased its financial backing for the Venice Biennale, citing Russia's participation in the art exhibition as the reason. An EU Commission spokesperson announced that the European Executive Agency for Education and Culture (EACEA) decided to end a two-million-euro grant to the Fondazione La Biennale di Venezia after a legal review.

Cultural projects that are financed with EU tax money must represent democratic fundamental values and promote open dialogue, diversity, and freedom of expression. These values are not respected in today's Russia. Therefore, further funding of the Biennale under the current circumstances is not compatible with EU principles.

— EU Commission spokespersonExplaining the EU's decision to withdraw funding from the Venice Biennale.

The spokesperson explained that cultural projects funded by EU taxpayers must embody democratic principles, including open dialogue, diversity, and freedom of speech. These values, the EU asserts, are not upheld in contemporary Russia, making continued funding incompatible with EU guidelines.

The Venice Biennale is a prominent international exhibition of contemporary art, running from May 9 to November 22 this year. The EU funding had been used to support film producers and immersive technology. The EACEA manages funds for education, culture, audiovisual media, sports, citizen engagement, and volunteer work.

The tree is rooted in the sky

— Anastassija KarnejewaTitle of the music and performance project by Russian artists at the Biennale.

Russia's participation marks its first involvement in the art biennale since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Approximately 50 artists selected by the Russian state are involved in a music and performance project titled "The Tree is Rooted in the Sky." While Russia's state-owned pavilion is closed to the public, an outdoor installation is displayed on a large screen. Russia's curator, Anastassija Karnejewa, whose father is an arms manager at the state-owned Rostec corporation, stated that Russia views its participation as an end to its cultural isolation in the West. Ukraine has protested Russia's presence, calling the cultural initiative part of "hybrid warfare."

hybrid warfare

— Unnamed Ukrainian protesterDescribing Russia's cultural offensive during the Venice Biennale.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog