Jury for Venice Biennale quits over participation of countries whose leaders have ICC arrest warrants

ROME, Italy — The international jury of the upcoming Venice Biennale Art Exhibition resigns over the organization’s refusal to ban countries with International Criminal Court arrest warrants.

The resignations come a week after the jury said it would exclude countries from awards if the ICC had issued arrest warrants for war crimes against their leaders — meaning Russia and Israel. This comes just days before the exhibition is due to open on May 9.

The organizers of the event — the world’s top international art exhibition — said in March that they would allow Russia to take part, but the decision has been strongly criticized by Ukraine and the EU.

Brussels warned it could cut funding, while the Italian government — which has supported Ukraine in the war — stressed the Biennale was acting “entirely independent” of Rome’s wishes.

Following the resignations, the Biennale says it has “decided that the award ceremony of the 61st International Art Exhibition, previously scheduled for May 9, will take place on Sunday, 22 November.”

It also says it would hand out two awards, one which could be won by any one of the “National Participations included in the 61st Exhibition, as per the official list, following the principle of inclusion and equal treatment.”

“This is consistent with the founding spirit of La Biennale, based on openness, dialogue, and the rejection of any form of closure or censorship,” it says in a statement.

“La Biennale seeks to be, and must remain, a place of truce in the name of art, culture, and artistic freedom,” it says.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.