The European Commission has warned it may withdraw funding from the Venice Biennale if organisers allow Russia to reopen its national pavilion at this year’s art exhibition. Russia’s pavilion was closed after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which led to the exclusion of Russian artists and institutions from many cultural events across Europe. The EU said institutions must comply with sanctions and avoid giving a platform to individuals who support the Kremlin’s war.

The commission said it could review measures including suspending a current EU grant to the Biennale Foundation, which organises the event in Venice. The EU currently provides about 2 million euros for film-related projects over three years, while the festival also receives major funding from the Italian government. Culture and foreign ministers from more than 20 European countries have also written to Biennale President Pietrangelo Buttafuoco calling Russia’s participation unacceptable.

Buttafuoco defended the exhibition as a global space for dialogue without censorship, saying it should remain open even to countries involved in conflicts. However, Alessandro Giuli, Italy’s culture minister, said the government does not support the decision. Ukrainian officials also urged the international art community to stay alert to what they described as Russia’s use of culture for propaganda during the ongoing war.

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