EU withdraws 2 million euro grant from Venice Biennale over Russia's participation

The European Union announced Tuesday it is canceling a 2 million euro grant for the Venice Biennale, citing Russia's presence at the world's largest contemporary art exhibition. The EU stated that cultural events funded by European taxpayers should uphold democratic values, open dialogue, diversity, and freedom of speech – principles it believes are not respected in present-day Russia.

Russia is participating in the Biennale, which opened in May, for the first time since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Ukraine's Minister of Culture, Tetiana Berezhna, compared Russia's inclusion to inviting a serial killer to dinner with friends. The event's international jury resigned in protest over Russia's inclusion.

The Biennale acknowledged in a statement Tuesday that it anticipated the grant's withdrawal. The organization said it would defend its rights on all relevant platforms. The EU's decision highlights the ongoing tension between cultural exchange and political condemnation in the context of international conflicts.