The international jury of the Venice Biennale don resign on Thursday, just days before the world oldest and most important contemporary art fair open. No reason was given, but the move come as Italy government oppose Russia participation.
The Biennale say in a statement that the jury, made up of the president, Solange Farkas, and Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma, Giovanna Zapperi, don resign. No explanation for the highly unusual move.
Di resignation follow a visit to the Biennale by Cultural Ministry officials wey arrive on Wednesday to gather information about the reopening of the Russian Pavilion. The Italian government don oppose the Biennale decision to allow Russia to participate in the international exhibition.
The jury was due to select winners of the highly prestigious Golden Lion and other prizes on the official opening day on 9 May. The Biennale announce that after the jury resignation, visitors go select winners of two awards: Best Participant in the curated Exhibition In Minor Keys and the Best National Participation among the 100 national pavilions. E go be awarded on the closing day on 22 November.
Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, asked about the resignations, reiterate that the government no agree with the Biennale decision to allow the Russians to participate, but acknowledge that the Biennale is autonomous. She say she no know if the resignations be connected to the Culture Ministry decision to send inspectors to Venice.
Cabinet Minister Matteo Salvini say that e be a great idea by the Biennale leadership to allow the exhibition spectators to decide the ultimate winner of the Biennale. So e go be an autonomous and democratic Biennale, e no get any better than that.
Last week, the European Union slash a €2 million grant to the Biennale over Russia participation in the exhibition for the first time since its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian artists withdraw their participation in 2022 and Russia no present an exhibition in 2024 for its permanent pavilion, which e instead lend to Bolivia. Russia last participate in the International Art Exhibition in 2019.
The Biennale say in a statement that e no get the authority to prevent a country from participating. Any country recognised by the Italian Republic fit request to participate. Since Russia own the pavilion built in 1914 in the historic Giardini, e only need to send notification of its request to participate.
La Biennale di Venezia reject any form of exclusion or censorship of culture and art. The Biennale, like the city of Venice, continue to be a place of dialogue, openness and artistic freedom, encouraging connections between peoples and cultures, with the constant hope for an end to conflicts and suffering.
The EU culture commissioner, Glenn Micallef, tell members of the European Parliament that e go no attend the May 9 opening of the Venice Biennale due to its decision to invite Russian participation, in a speech on April 29. E no be the first time the commissioner don criticize the Biennale. In March, Micallef co-sign a condemnation of the organizers for inviting Russia, after which the European Commission begin a process to suspend a grant of two million euros.
I would have very much like to attend, to celebrate Europe Day there with the Italian cultural sector, which I deeply love and admire. However, as long as Russia and the Russian authorities continue to be invited, while Ukrainian people continue to be targeted, and attacked on a daily basis, I cannot be present, Micallef tell MEPs.
The remarks feature as part of a discussion initiated by the European Parliament on the danger of normalizing relations with Russia, including its participation in major cultural and sports events. Other organizations, such as the Olympic and Paralympic committees and FIFA, be likewise criticized for moves towards normalization with Moscow.
The Venice Biennale don attract particularly widespread criticism because Russia war don be calamitous for Ukrainian culture and heritage. A letter signed by 22 countries, wey call on the Biennale to stop Russia participation, describe Moscow attacks on Ukrainian cultural sites as systematic, and warn that granting Russia a prestigious international cultural platform sends a deeply troubling signal.
The Russian presence at the Biennale don also be flagged for concerns about ties between its organizers and the country military-industrial complex. Ukraine sanction five people involved in the Russian pavilion for their ties to some of the largest companies fueling Moscow war machine.
The EU process for terminating its funding of the Biennale go take a little longer. The Foundation wey organize the event get until mid-May to respond to the European Commission letter. A Commission spokesperson say on April 23 that if the response no be satisfactory, the grant fit be terminated, and that none of the money don be disbursed so far.
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