Biennale di Venezia 2022 sets attendance record but Italian visitors lag

The 59th Venice Biennale, titled 'Il latte dei sogni' and curated by Cecilia Alemani, concluded with record-breaking attendance: 800,000 tickets sold, a 35% increase over the 2019 pre-pandemic edition, the highest in the Biennale's 127-year history. However, only 41% of visitors were Italian (320,000), while 59% came from abroad. The author argues that despite the success, the low Italian turnout reflects a persistent prejudice against contemporary art in Italy, and that the Biennale's immersive, multi-medial installations could help bridge this gap. The piece suggests that 320,000 Italian visitors, though high for a contemporary art exhibition in Italy, are insufficient given the event's potential to engage broader audiences.