Venice Biennale Jury Resigns Over Israel-Russia Awards Ban

The international jury of the Venice Biennale has collectively resigned a week after announcing that countries accused of crimes against humanity, namely Israel and Russia, would not be considered for awards. The jurors did not provide an explicit reason for their decision. The resignation comes ahead of the press preview for the 61st edition, which opens amid ongoing controversy. Meanwhile, the American Arts Conservancy is fundraising for the US Pavilion via a 'Support Our Mission' button on its website, accepting donations of at least $100. Russia's return to the Biennale will involve workarounds to comply with international sanctions, making its pavilion accessible only during vernissage dates to select guests and press. In other news, artist Xandra Ibarra's nude performance at MFA Boston sparked conversations about consent and viewer etiquette. Banksy erected an anti-imperialist monument in central London. Mexican cultural workers denounced a Pedro Reyes sculpture at LACMA over its contentious history. The High Line unveiled a 27-foot-tall Buddha referencing the destroyed Bamiyan Buddhas. Editor-in-chief Hakim Bishara also highlighted Hakan Topal's essay on the financialization of art schools, noting that admin jobs at US universities grew 369% between 1976 and 2011 while tenure-track faculty grew only 23%.