RT Balkan
Venice Biennale Loses Funding: Who Is Troubled by Russian Artists?
April 29, 2026
RT Balkan
Russian participation has been allowed at the 61st Venice Biennale, but it is regrettable that the Russian Pavilion will be open for only three days—from November 6 to 9 (during the vernissage, the three-day preview opening of the exhibition)—and will then be closed, notes collector and antiquarian Vladimir Pesic.
The European Commission will suspend its €2 million financial contribution to the Venice Biennale after the Biennale Foundation decided to allow Russia to participate in the event once again.
Moscow has not taken part in the Biennale since 2022, following the start of the Special Military Operation in Ukraine, after which Russian artists and cultural institutions were excluded from European cultural events.
Collector and antiquarian Vladimir Pesic, whose collection contains more than 330 works of fine art, primarily by Russian artists, said that Russian painting is distinguished by exceptional quality and warmth.
“For centuries, Russians have been devoted to fine arts and art in general, sacrificing all of their free time for it. Children begin attending art schools at the age of five or six, and their education continues into their late twenties, until they earn the title of Academician,” Pesic said on RT’s Morning Program.
He emphasized that this is a difficult, lengthy, and demanding path requiring complete dedication. However, he added, the need for artistic expression is a God-given inspiration.
Pesic also stressed that the Serbian and Russian peoples are close and share common roots.
“We understand each other very well and fit together naturally,” he said, adding that many artists are currently coming to Serbia to create, hold concerts, and bring fellow artists from Russia.
He believes that Serbia and Russia have managed to preserve a strong and positive relationship.
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“We have never done anything comparable to what the Western world is doing today and the attitude it displays toward Russian culture. There can be no justification for it,” he said.
According to him, these measures ultimately harm the countries that impose them, which have been boycotting Russian art for the past four years.
He explained that Russians have been allowed to participate in the 61st Biennale, but that the pavilion will be open for only three days—from November 6 to 9 (during the vernissage, the exhibition’s three-day preview opening)—and will then be closed.
“This may be a step forward compared to something that should never have happened in the first place, but it is sad that the pavilion will be open for only three days instead of remaining open throughout the Biennale, until November 22,” said Pesic.
“There were major divisions in Italy over this issue. The Minister of Culture threatened not to attend the opening, while part of the Italian government supported Russia’s participation. Then one has to ask how the United States or Israel can participate,” he added.
The European Commission informed the Venice Biennale that it would suspend its €2 million funding grant because of Russia’s return to the international exhibition, the Commission announced.
“We strongly condemn the decision of the Biennale Foundation to allow the reopening of the Russian Pavilion at the art exhibition. Our position on this matter is unequivocal. In this context, there is only one active grant—€2 million for the next three years—and we intend to terminate or suspend it,” said European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier.
