Overview
- The European Commission froze the grant on Thursday, giving the Biennale 30 days to defend letting Russia rejoin the 61st exhibition.
- The jury said it will not consider entries from countries whose leaders face International Criminal Court arrest warrants for this year’s Golden and Silver Lions, a move that effectively targets Russia and Israel.
- Biennale leaders say they are not authorized to bar any state recognized by Italy and reject what they call the exclusion or censorship of culture.
- Russia is preparing a pavilion titled “The Tree is rooted in the Sky” with about 50 artists, including the folk group Toloka, with protests expected around the May 9 public opening.
- The frozen EU money was slated over three years for film and immersive projects, raising leverage that could push museums and festivals to weigh autonomy against political and human-rights demands.