Culture News
Venice Biennale jury resigns over Russia and Israel: visitors will now pick the Lions
The entire international jury of the 61st Venice Biennale art exhibition resigned on Thursday, April 30, nine days before the May 9 opening, Italy's news agency ANSA reports. The five members were president Solange Farkas, Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma and Giovanna Zapperi. The Biennale's brief statement gave no reason.
The previous week, the jury had said it would not consider for the Golden and Silver Lions the pavilions of countries whose leaders face International Criminal Court arrest warrants, citing Russia's Vladimir Putin and Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu. Russia is taking part for the first time since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and the resignation came a day after Italian culture ministry inspectors visited to gather documents.
According to NPR, which carried an Associated Press report, visitors will now choose two winners: best participant in the main show, “In Minor Keys”, curated by the late Koyo Kouoh, and best national participation among 100 pavilions, to be announced on November 22. Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli will skip the opening; Premier Giorgia Meloni said her government disagrees with Russia's presence but accepts the Biennale's autonomy.
The Biennale said it “does not have the authority to prevent a country from participating” — via NPR
Euromaidan Press in Ukraine noted that the change puts Russia and Israel back in contention, that Russia's pavilion would be open only during the May 5–8 preview days, and that Kyiv had asked Italy not to issue visas to Russian participants.
How each outlet framed it
- ANSA — the institutional chain: inspectors, Brussels and the culture minister.
- NPR — the new visitor vote and Meloni's balancing act.
- Euromaidan Press — Ukraine's sanctions, visa request and boycotts by Latvia and others.
Where the numbers differ: ANSA says €2m in EU funding is at risk; NPR says the EU has already cut it; Euromaidan Press says Brussels began a procedure to freeze a €2m grant running to 2028.