Cultural workers, unions, and grassroots groups are planning a 24-hour strike on Friday, May 8, at the Venice Biennale to protest Israel's participation amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Organized by the Art Not Genocide Alliance (ANGA), the action includes a rally on Viale Garibaldi and calls for a boycott of Israel's "genocide pavilion." Participating groups include Biennaleocene, Sale Docks, Mi Riconosci, Vogliamo Tutt’altro, and several Italian trade unions. The strike follows months of activism, including a letter signed by over 200 event participants, and comes after the Biennale jury resigned over award eligibility rules that initially excluded Israel and Russia.
This strike matters because it marks the first organized labor action within the Venice Biennale, one of the world's most prestigious art events, and reflects growing tensions between cultural institutions and political activism. The protest highlights the art world's struggle to address accusations of complicity in human rights violations, as the Biennale continues to host Israel despite widespread calls for exclusion. The controversy also underscores broader debates about the role of art institutions in geopolitical conflicts, with implications for future biennials and international cultural diplomacy.