European Pavilions Unite in Support of Ukraine at Venice Biennale

At the 61st Venice Biennale, representatives from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and other European nations issued a joint declaration supporting Ukrainian cultural workers and condemning the war's impact on the art sector and heritage. The statement was presented during a parallel event within the Biennale, transforming national pavilions into active diplomatic platforms. It highlights the destruction of cultural infrastructure, deaths of artists, and erasure of historical heritage, calling for an international coordinated response. This initiative follows pressure since March, when culture ministers from over 20 countries requested reconsideration of Russia's participation. During pre-opening days, delegates held public acts and joint speeches in solidarity with Ukraine. The move signals a structural shift where national pavilions operate as extensions of diplomatic agendas amid global conflicts.