EU Suspends €2 Million Grant to Venice Biennale Over Russian Pavilion

The Venice Biennale will no longer receive a €2 million subsidy (about R$11.56 million) from the European Union, bringing an end to weeks of speculation. This decision, revealed by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), comes after a legal review by the European Commission, which had previously signaled its desire to cease funding. The issue stems from the presence of the Russian Pavilion, prompting worries about Russia's involvement since before the exhibition's May opening. The Commission maintained that cultural initiatives should embody democratic principles, which are lacking in Russia's current political environment. Meanwhile, the Biennale contends it cannot exclude Russia, emphasizing that the funding was tied to the Cinema Department's functions, not the Art Biennale.