European Union cancels $2.3 million grant for Venice Biennale due to Russia's participation

Brussels, July 21 (KUNA) -- The European Union announced on Tuesday the cancellation of a grant worth two million euros ($2.3 million) that it had allocated to the Venice Biennale, citing Russia’s participation in the world’s largest contemporary art exhibition. Thomas Renierie, a spokesperson for the European Commission, said in a press statement that “cultural events funded by European taxpayers’ money must uphold democratic values and promote open dialogue, diversity, and freedom of expression, values that Russia currently does not respect.” He clarified that the decision to withdraw the funding is final and reflects the EU’s opposition to Moscow’s participation in the exhibition, which opened last May, marking the first time since the war in Ukraine began in 2022. Russia’s participation had drawn objections from Ukraine and the EU, while the organizers of the Venice Biennale maintained that the event is founded on “principles of openness and dialogue and rejects any form of closure or censorship.” It is worth noting that Russia was barred from participating in the exhibition after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in 2022, before returning to take part in this year’s edition. (End) A.R.N. / F.L.A.