Venice Biennale jury resigns days before start of exhibition

The entire jury of the Venice Biennale has resigned just nine days before the inauguration of the prestigious art event, amid growing tensions over the return of Russia for the first time since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

In a brief statement, the jury said it was acting in accordance with its previous decision not to consider countries "whose leaders are currently charged with crimes against humanity" for any prizes, meaning Russia and Israel.

The exhibition showcases art from around the world in dozens of national pavilions.

Italy's Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, said allowing Russia to take part "is a decision not shared by the government".

But she added that the Biennale was autonomous and its president "very capable".

The Biennale has been at the centre of controversy for weeks. The dramatic announcement came the day after a delegation from Italy's culture ministry visited Venice to gather information about the reopening of the Russian pavilion, which had already led the minister himself to declare a boycott of the Biennale.

Earlier in April, the EU announced that it was pulling a two million Euro grant over Russia's return to the Biennale which it deemed "morally wrong" as Moscow "seeks to erase Ukrainian culture" as part of its invasion.

The Biennale has previously stressed that it is open to everyone and "rejects any form or exclusion or censorship". It argued that it couldn't bar Russia from taking part in any case, as the country owns its pavilion.

In 2022, after Russia went to war against Ukraine, the curator and artists involved in the Russian pavilion withdrew in protest against Vladimir Putin and his invasion, leaving the pavilion empty. In 2024, Russia handed the space over to Bolivia.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Putin, alleging he is responsible for war crimes. Moscow has denied the allegations and labelled the warrants as "outrageous".

For Russia, appearing at the Venice Biennale again would be a huge boost and part of the normalisation it covets even as its invasion of Ukraine continues to claim lives every day.

Over the past four years, numerous Ukrainian museums and cultural heritage sites have been destroyed, art looted by invading troops and hundreds of artists killed by the fighting.

Italy's culture ministry is believed to be investigating whether Russia's return to the art fair violates any sanctions.

This year the Russian team is due to exhibit a performance with sound called The Tree is Rooted in the Sky, although some reports have suggested that public access might be restricted.

Israel's foreign ministry previously commented that the decision to exclude the country from possible prizes was "a contamination of the art world."

In 2024, judges at the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israel's prime minister and former defence minister.

The judges said there were "reasonable grounds" the three men bore "criminal responsibility" for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the war between Israel and Hamas. Israel rejected the allegations.

The jury at the Biennale were due to announce a series of prizes at the inauguration on 9 May. That ceremony has now been cancelled and visitors will instead get to vote themselves on their favourite pavilions.