Pietrangelo Buttafuoco. Photo: labiennale.org
Earlier, the European Commission announced the withdrawal of a 2 million euro grant, explaining that European taxpayers’ money should be directed toward projects that support democratic values and freedom—which, according to Brussels, Russia does not currently share.
“The EU was a partner with whom we traveled part of the way, but now it is distancing itself from us for reasons that are purely political, rather than legal or cultural,” Buttafuoco said during the presentation of the 2026 Venice Film Festival.
According to him, pressure to exclude Russia from international cultural events contradicts the Biennale’s historical mission, which for over 130 years has served as a platform for artistic exchange and the free expression of ideas.
“If we abandon the principles of autonomy, freedom of expression, research, and creativity, we will betray the very foundation upon which this institution was built,” the head of the foundation noted.
The Venice Biennale disagreed with the European Commission’s arguments, stating that the canceled funding pertained to projects within its film section and was not directly related to Russia’s participation in the main art program.
The organizers announced that they intend to appeal the EU’s decision. At the same time, they emphasized that the loss of the grant will not have a significant impact on the organization’s financial situation.
The dispute arose following the decision to reinstate the Russian pavilion at the Venice Art Biennale in 2026—the first time since the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. The decision has sparked controversy within the European cultural community: some consider Russia’s participation unacceptable under the current circumstances, while others advocate for preserving art as a space for international dialogue.
