Stories from Venice · Italy

The current edition of the Biennale will create a platform for discussion among participating nations, including Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, which have been involved since the 1990s.

Women are chanting "Russian art is blood" as part of an organized protest against Russia's participation in the Biennale. Russian exile artist Katja Margolis is involved in this protest. She initiated a petition and wrote letters to the Biennale management to oppose Russia's involvement. However, these efforts have not had any reported effect.

Biennale director Pietro Angelo Buttafuoco is maintaining his plans despite receiving international protests and backlash in recent weeks. The director was observed entering the art exhibition premises, greeting officials, but did not have time for journalists' questions. Biennale Director Pietrangelo Buttafuoco has reportedly faced opposition in recent weeks. Despite this, he showed little sign of the criticism while greeting other art exhibition officials.

Alice Schlein plans to visit the Italy Pavilion at the Venice Biennale on May 20. The pavilion is curated by Cecilia Canziani and features works by Chiara Camoni. Schlein stated she would pay homage to the entire Biennale, said the institution's merit for respect.

Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli is expected to miss the opening of the Biennale, according to reports. The Ministry of Culture sent an inspection to the Biennale Foundation days before the event. All international juries have resigned following the inspection.

Demonstrators forced the temporary closure of the Russian pavilion at the Venice Biennale. Protesters expressed anger over Russia's inclusion in the arts festival, shouting slogans regarding the curation. The Ukrainian feminist movement Femme joined protesters in front of the Russian pavilion. Protesters wore pink balaclavas and used yellow and blue smoke bombs alongside Ukrainian flags. The group shouted slogans against Russia during the demonstration. This activity occurred alongside a performance titled 'The Tree Rooted in the Sky' inside the pavilion. Pussy Riot has denounced the atmosphere inside the pavilion as being centered on vodka. The activist group Pussy Riot staged a new protest in Venice, chanting "No Putin in Venice." This action follows previous discussions regarding Russia's participation in cultural events.

Russian director Alexander Sakurov will not participate in events in Venice scheduled for May 6 and 7. Sakurov stated his absence was due to organizational problems, including flight issues.

Divers have recovered 18 tonnes of waste from the canals in Venice over the last six years. Authorities have banned diving into the canals to prevent pollution. Violators face a 450 euro fine and a two-day ban on staying in Venice.

An event focused on defending art as a space of real freedom will take place in Venice on May 9 at 10:00 at Ponte della Paglia. The organizers stated the goal is not to oppose art but to defend its existence against being used as a tool to legitimize war criminals and crimes. The event aims to address the possibility of art existing as a space of liberty.

Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, president of the Venice Biennale, attended the first day of the 61st Venice Biennale of Art pre-opening. This choice of sobriety follows a second letter from Brussels inviting the organization not to provide a showcase for Russia. The Biennale organizers responded that they have respected all regulations.