Twenty-two culture ministers from European Union countries, along with a relevant representative of the Ukrainian government, have called for the exclusion of the Russian Federation from this year’s Venice Biennale. The letter was also signed by German Foreign Minister Johannes Wadaful. The appeal emphasizes the unacceptability of Russia’s participation in this prestigious international art event amid its ongoing full-scale aggression against Ukraine.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Arguments Against Russia’s Participation
In the letter, the ministers stress that culture is inextricably linked to the reality that affects societies, shaping their values and behavior. They remind that cultural institutions carry not only artistic but also moral significance, and the Russian Federation is under European and international sanctions, including in the cultural sphere, due to violations of Ukraine’s sovereignty and international law.
“Culture does not exist separately from the reality that societies face. It shapes how people understand the world, what they value, and how they decide to act. Therefore, cultural institutions bear not only artistic significance but also moral responsibility… The Russian Federation remains under European and international sanctions, including in the cultural sector, imposed due to its violations of international law and Ukraine’s sovereignty,” the letter states.
The government appeal notes that allowing Russia to represent itself at the Venice Biennale is an “extremely alarming signal,” especially in light of the ongoing war against Ukraine. The ministers expressed deep concern over the significant risk of using participation in the Biennale to create an image of legitimacy for the aggressor state on the international stage, which contradicts the real situation in Ukraine.
The Russian Pavilion and the Impact of War on Culture
The letter also cites data indicating that, according to Ukrainian authorities, at least 342 artists have died, and 1,685 cultural heritage sites and 2,483 cultural infrastructure objects have been damaged due to actions by the Russian Federation. This, as the authors of the appeal emphasized, signifies not only the loss of material values but also attempts to erase cultural memory and silence the voices of Ukrainian artists.
The ministers urge the Biennale organizers to reconsider their decision regarding Russia’s participation, also taking into account the political nature of the project associated with the Russian pavilion and its possible connections with representatives of the Russian political elite. In their view, this creates a risk of using the platform for state cultural diplomacy under the guise of artistic exchange.
On March 10, European Commission Vice-President Henna Virkkunen and European Commissioner for Intergenerational Justice, Youth, Culture, and Sport Glenn Micallef emphasized that the EU could withdraw funding for the Venice Biennale if Russia proceeds with its own pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition.
Ukrainian Foreign and Culture Ministers Andriy Sybiha and Tetiana Berezhna called on the Venice Biennale to exclude Russia from participation, especially after the organizers announced the possibility of its return to the event for the first time since the full-scale invasion in 2022.
On March 4, the Venice Biennale organizers announced that they would allow the Russian Federation to participate in this year’s exhibition, which will run from May 9 to November 22. This decision has faced sharp criticism, including from the government of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The Venice Biennale is one of the most prestigious international exhibitions of contemporary art, held since 1895.