Venice Biennale Jury Resigns Ahead of Opening, Awards Shift to Public Vote
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The international jury for the Venice Biennale has resigned nine days before the art fair's opening, citing its earlier pledge not to award prizes to countries charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Biennale has announced that visitors will now select the winners for two major awards, which will be presented at the exhibition's close in November. The resignations and the shift to public voting follow political tensions over the participation of Russia and Israel.
Facts First
- The Venice Biennale's five-member international jury has resigned ahead of the exhibition's May 9 opening.
- The jury had previously pledged not to award prizes to countries charged with crimes against humanity by the ICC, including Israel and Russia.
- The Biennale will now have visitors select the winners for the Best National Participation and Best Participant awards, to be presented on the closing day, Nov. 22.
- The Italian government opposes Russia's participation but acknowledges the Biennale's autonomy, while the EU cut 2 million euros in funding over the issue.
- Russia's permanent pavilion will not host a Russian exhibition in 2024; it has been lent to Bolivia, with Russia last participating in the main art exhibition in 2019.
What Happened
The five-member international jury for the Venice Biennale resigned on Thursday, nine days before the opening of the contemporary art fair. The jury had previously announced it would not award prizes to countries charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC), including Israel and Russia. In response, the Biennale announced that visitors will instead select winners for two awards: Best Participant in the main curated exhibition and Best National Participation. These visitor-selected awards will be presented on the closing day, November 22.
Why this Matters to You
If you are planning to visit the Venice Biennale, your experience may now include a direct role in determining the exhibition's major award winners. The shift to a public vote could make your visit feel more participatory. The underlying political disputes highlight how global conflicts can directly impact major cultural institutions, potentially affecting the diversity of artistic representation you see. The Italian government's stated commitment against discrimination and antisemitism in cultural institutions suggests a continued effort to maintain a principled space for art, even amidst disagreement.
What's Next
The Biennale will open on May 9 without its official jury, proceeding with its main curated exhibition and over 100 national pavilions. The visitor voting process for the two awards is likely to be a prominent feature of the exhibition until it closes in November. Political tensions may continue, as the Italian government has stated it does not agree with allowing Russian participation but acknowledges the Biennale's autonomy. The Biennale's stance that it lacks the authority to prevent a recognized country from participating suggests future editions could face similar challenges if geopolitical conflicts persist.