Biennale Jury’s Stance on Awards and Human Rights
The jury of the Venice Biennale has declared it will not award artists from countries whose leaders face charges of crimes against humanity. This decision appears to be directed at Russia and Israel.
The five-member jury, responsible for selecting recipients of the Golden and Silver Lion awards among the 110 participating artists, expressed its commitment to the defence of human rights. This position aligns with the vision of Koyo Kouoh, who was appointed to lead the 2026 edition of the biennale before her death last year, and the jury stated it would refrain from considering artists from countries whose leaders are charged by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Details on the Jury’s Statement and Local Reactions
While the jury’s statement did not explicitly name Russia or Israel, the mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, revealed that the jury sent a letter to his council indicating their inability to award artists from governments under ICC investigation. Brugnaro commented on the matter:
“It’s an independent choice which we respect, just as the biennale is independent in choosing to have these pavilions.”
The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin over alleged war crimes against children in Ukraine, and for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu concerning alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Context of the Biennale and Political Tensions
The Venice Biennale, which runs until 22 November, has faced political challenges recently. The jury’s statement, nominated by Kouoh, coincided with the European Commission sending a letter to the organisers expressing concerns about the exhibition due to Russia’s participation. The biennale has 30 days to respond to this communication.
Additionally, Italy’s far-right government has clashed with the biennale over the reintroduction of the Russian pavilion. Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli stated that the decision was made:
“entirely independently by the Biennale Foundation, despite the Italian government’s opposition”.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the biennale condemned the aggression and barred access to that year’s event for anyone linked to the Kremlin. Although Russia was never formally banned from participating, it was absent from both the 2022 and 2024 editions.
In March, some organisers urged reconsideration of Russia’s participation, arguing that the biennale should not become:
“a stage for whitewashing … war crimes”.
