Venice Biennale: After the EU, Private Sponsors Also Threaten to Withdraw. Funding from the Ministry of Culture (16 Million Euros) Also Uncertain. President Buttafuoco Insists: "Russia Has the Right to Participate"

 

Venice – The bridge that art should build between peoples risks turning into an abyss for the 61st International Art Exhibition. The decision of the Biennale Foundation to reopen the doors to the Pavilion of the Russian Federation has triggered a chain reaction that threatens to empty the coffers of the most prestigious cultural institution in the world. The ultimatum from Brussels The European Commission has moved from words to action. In an official communication, commissioners Henna Virkkunen and Glenn Micallef defined Moscow's presence as "incompatible with the EU's collective response to Russia's brutal aggression." On the table is a concrete threat: the withdrawal of 2 million euros linked to the Creative Europe program. Although they represent a fraction of the total budget, the symbolic and operational value (especially for the Cinema and Media sectors) is incalculable. While the Italian Ministry of Culture, led by Alessandro Giuli, tries a delicate balancing act — confirming the 16 million euros of regular funding but reiterating its "opposing stance" on the choice — the real danger comes from private entities. According to rumors gathered among the pavilions being set up, several top international sponsors (in the fashion and tech sectors) have already sent letters of "deep concern." The brands fear reputational damage: being associated with an event that, according to the 22 European ministers who signed a protest letter, risks becoming "a platform for Kremlin propaganda."

President Pietrangelo Buttafuoco does not back down. Claiming the Biennale's nature as a "place of coexistence for the entire planet," the Foundation has reaffirmed that any country recognized by Italy and owning a historic pavilion has the right to participate. (www.agenziaomniapress.com - 12.3.2026)