by InTrieste
The international jury of the 61st Venice Biennale resigned on Thursday, just over a week before the world’s oldest contemporary art exhibition is set to open, as controversy over the participation of Israel and Russia intensified.
The five-member panel—chaired by Brazilian curator Solange Farkas and including Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma and Giovanna Zapperi—stepped down without providing detailed reasons, according to Biennale officials.
Their resignation followed a statement issued on April 23 in which the jury said it would not evaluate countries whose leaders are subject to outstanding arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity. Although no countries were named, the position was widely interpreted as referring to Russia and Israel.
The ICC has issued a warrant for President Vladimir Putin over the alleged deportation of Ukrainian children, and for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in connection with the war in Gaza.
The statement drew immediate political and diplomatic reactions. Israel’s foreign ministry accused the jury of effectively boycotting the Israeli artist Belu-Simion Fainaru, who is representing Israel at this year’s exhibition. Legal representatives for the artist said they had filed complaints with the Biennale, Italy’s culture ministry, and the office of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, alleging discrimination and threatening legal action at the European Court of Human Rights.
The dispute also intersects with Russia’s return to the Biennale for the first time since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The European Union has withdrawn a €2 million grant linked to Russia’s participation, while Italy’s culture minister ordered administrative checks at the Biennale’s Venice offices this week.
Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli will not attend the opening events, officials confirmed. Prime Minister Meloni said the Biennale operates independently and declined to comment on the jury’s resignation.
In a statement, the Biennale said it has no authority to exclude participating countries, noting that any nation recognized by Italy may take part. It described itself as “a place of dialogue, openness and artistic freedom.”
In the absence of a jury, organizers said two Golden Lion awards will now be determined by public vote among ticket holders visiting the Giardini and Arsenale venues. The award ceremony has been moved from the opening day on May 9 to the closing day on November 22.
This year’s edition, titled In Minor Keys, was originally conceived by the late curator Koyo Kouoh.
