European ministers criticise Russia’s participation in the Venice Biennale
Minister of Science and Culture Mari-Leena Talvitie has signed a joint statement from the ministers responsible for culture from 22 European countries, sent to the organisers of the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia. Allowing the Russian Federation’s participation is unacceptable, and the ministers call on the Venice Biennale to reconsider its decision.
The initiative, launched by Latvia’s Minister of Culture, Agnese Lāce, has been signed by ministers from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden and Ukraine.
The joint letter has been addressed to Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, President of La Biennale di Venezia, and the Board of Directors of the Biennale. It has also been shared with Italy’s Minister of Culture, Alessandro Giuli.
The ministers emphasise that for more than a century, the Venice Biennale has stood as a key forum for artistic freedom and international cultural exchange. At the same time, they underline that cultural institutions also carry a moral responsibility.
According to the ministers, Russia’s war of aggression has brought widespread destruction not only to the people of Ukraine but also to her cultural life and heritage, including museums, historic sites and monuments. The ministers also stress that Russia remains subject to European and international sanctions.
The letter also recalls artists and curators who withdrew from the Russian pavilion in 2022 after the start of the invasion. For these reasons, the signatory ministers consider the participation of the Russian Federation in the Venice Biennale unacceptable under the current circumstances and call on the Biennale leadership to reconsider its decision.