The international jury of the Venice Biennale resigned en masse just nine days before the opening of the world's oldest contemporary art fair, amid a dispute over Russia's participation and the panel's decision to bar prizes for countries accused of crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court. The jury, comprising president Solange Farkas and members Zoe Butt, Elvira Dyangani Ose, Marta Kuzma, and Giovanna Zapperi, stepped down without explanation, following tensions that also involved Italy's Culture Ministry cutting €2 million in EU funding over Russia's presence and sending inspectors to the Russian Pavilion.
The resignations threaten the prestige of the Biennale's Golden Lion awards, which the jury was to select on opening day; instead, visitors will now choose winners in two categories. The crisis highlights the ongoing politicization of major cultural events, as Italy's government opposed Russia's participation but the Biennale's director, Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, refused to exclude any country. The incident underscores the challenges art institutions face in balancing artistic freedom with geopolitical pressures, especially regarding nations accused of war crimes, and raises questions about the Biennale's autonomy and future governance.