The Headlines

EU TO PULL VENICE FUNDING? The European Commission has recommended the withdrawal of €2 million from the Venice Biennale as a dispute over Russia’s participation in the exhibition continues, the Art Journal reports. The move follows months of tension over the reopening of the Russian Pavilion, which returned this year after closing in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. EU executive vice-president Henna Virkkunen said the recommendation followed an assessment of the Biennale’s justification for allowing Russia’s participation, arguing that publicly funded culture should uphold democratic values. The Biennale previously defended its decision, saying it followed international rules and that the pavilion was never opened to the public. Moreover, the Biennale claimed, excluding countries from the show would amount to censorship. The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) will make the final call.