According to Virkkunen, the recommendation was drafted after an assessment of the explanations provided by the Biennale’s leadership regarding the Russian pavilion’s participation, ARTnews reports. She stated that culture funded by European taxpayers’ money should promote and protect democratic values.
The final decision rests with the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), which administers the European Union’s grant programs. For now, this is a recommendation from the European Commission, not a definitive termination of funding.
The Russian pavilion returned to the program of the 61st Venice Biennale for the first time since the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022. However, the organizers emphasized that the pavilion was not open to the general public. According to them, the decision complies with the Biennale’s current rules and the principle of institutional neutrality, and excluding certain countries for political reasons would contradict the long-standing principles of the Venice Biennale and could be viewed as a form of cultural censorship.
The decision drew criticism from Ukraine, a number of European politicians, and representatives of the cultural community, including members of the group Pussy Riot. According to critics, Russia’s participation in one of the world’s largest forums for contemporary art cannot be separated from the current political context. The Biennale’s leadership, for its part, insists that the international exhibition must remain a platform for cultural dialogue and not become a tool for political sanctions.
If the EACEA supports the European Commission’s recommendation, the Venice Biennale could lose its EU grant of 2 million euros, allocated for the period 2025–2028. This case could influence future practices regarding the funding of European cultural projects if their participants become involved in political disputes.
