Venice Biennale, EU Funding, and Institutional Shifts

The Venice Biennale jury announced it will not consider top prizes for nations whose leaders face ICC charges, excluding Russia and Israel. The European Union subsequently cut Biennale funding over Russia's inclusion. Hundreds of musicians, including Roger Waters and Macklemore, called for a Eurovision boycott over Israel's participation. Algeria sentenced Goncourt-winning novelist Kamel Daoud to three years in prison for writing about the country's civil war. Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater will close after 42 years. London's Bridge Theatre is exploring a sale. Saudi Arabia pulled out of a $200 million deal with the Metropolitan Opera. Berlin Modern's opening was delayed to 2030 due to moisture damage. LACMA's David Geffen Galleries opened to mixed reviews. V&A East opened as a museum-laboratory. Conductor Michael Tilson Thomas died at 81.