Cultural workers and participants at the Venice Biennale plan to strike on 8 May during the opening week of the 61st edition, protesting Israel’s participation in the event. The strike, organized by the Art Not Genocide Alliance (ANGA) and supported by Italian trade unions, includes a rally near the Arsenale site. ANGA previously sent a letter signed by over 230 artists and curators demanding the cancellation of the Israeli pavilion, citing opposition to "genocide normalisation in culture" and precarious labor conditions. Israel is represented this year by sculptor Belu-Simion Fainaru, who opposes cultural boycotts.
The strike adds to a turbulent buildup to the Biennale, following the resignation of the entire five-person prize jury over disputes about Israel and Russia’s participation. The jury had planned to exclude artists from countries whose leaders face arrest warrants for crimes against humanity, targeting Russia and Israel. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions around geopolitical conflicts in the art world, with ANGA accusing the Biennale of double standards over Russia’s limited presence and the EU threatening to withdraw funding. The action underscores how major cultural events increasingly become arenas for political protest and ethical debate.