The European Executive Agency for Education and Culture (EEAEC) has decided this Tuesday to withdraw a grant of two million euros from the Venice Biennale, after the European Commission demanded this measure due to the controversy generated around the presence of Russia and the organization's refusal to exclude that country from the event.
"Following the legal opinion and the recommendation of the Commission, the EEAEC has made the decision to terminate the grant of two million euros that was being awarded to the Venice Biennale Foundation," sources from the European Commission explained, after the review of the case requested by Brussels.
From the community executive, they emphasize that cultural projects funded with European public funds "must safeguard democratic values, promote open dialogue, diversity, and freedom of expression, values that are not respected in present-day Russia."
The Executive Vice President of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, had expressly requested the EEAEC to cancel the aid, after the Biennale refused to veto Russia in what is considered the most important art and architecture event in the world.
Brussels had already warned weeks ago that its financial contribution was at risk if Russian participation continued. In a public statement, the Venice Biennale defended itself by claiming that it is "an open institution" in which any state recognized by the Italian Republic can be present, and emphasized that it "rejects any form of exclusion or censorship of culture and art."
The controversy surrounding Moscow has also impacted the jury of the Biennale, which resigned en masse last week after refusing to include Russia and Israel among the exhibition awards, arguing that both countries are led by leaders "accused of crimes against humanity."
This change in the organization has led to the postponement of the announcement of the awards, initially scheduled for May 9, until November 22. There is only one precedent for a similar decision in the 2021 edition, then conditioned by the restrictions arising from the coronavirus pandemic.