Article Summary
Nearly 200 artists, curators and art workers involved in the 2026 Venice Biennale have signed a letter, delivered to the biennale’s president and board, demanding the exclusion of the Israeli pavilion. Led by the Art Not Genocide Alliance (ANGA), the signatories say they refuse to "platform the Israeli state as it commits genocide," and cite damage to Palestinian cultural life. Named signatories include Alfredo Jaar, Yto Barrada, Rosana Paulino, Meriem Bennani, Cauleen Smith, and curators Binna Choi and Carles Guerra. ANGA previously warned on 2 October 2025 that failure to exclude Israel could prompt a full artist and audience boycott and coordinated industrial action in Italy. The letter references Palestinian Ministry of Health death toll estimates in Gaza.
Why It Matters
The petition directly targets the Venice Biennale’s programming and threatens boycotts that could affect the exhibition’s reputation and participation.
Institution Context
Nearly 200 artists, curators and art workers for the 2026 Venice Biennale, led by Art Not Genocide Alliance (ANGA), delivered a letter to the biennale’s president and board demanding exclusion of the Israeli pavilion, citing damage to Palestinian cultural life and referencing Palestinian Ministry of Health death-toll estimates; named signatories include Alfredo Jaar, Yto Barrada, Rosana Paulino and Meriem Bennani after ANGA’s 2 October 2025 boycott warning.
Publication Context
The Art Newspaper is an international art news outlet covering exhibitions, appointments and sector trends—reporting on items such as Helen Legg’s appointment at London’s Royal Academy, debates over art-fair “statement” stands, and linking to resources like Europeana Newspapers.
Event Details
Start: 2026-05-09
End: 2026-11-22
Time: 9 May–22 November
Location: Venice, Italy