Article Summary
Art Not Genocide Alliance (ANGA) released an open letter calling on the Venice Biennale to bar Israel from participating in this year’s exhibition; it has nearly 200 signatories, including artists and curators taking part in the Biennale. Signatories include curators Gabe Beckhurst Feijoo and Rasha Salti, members of the team working with the late curator Koyo Kouoh, who died last May after being announced as curator of the 2026 Venice Biennale. The letter accuses Israel of genocide and apartheid and cites 2024 protests—when ANGA’s earlier letter drew over 20,000 signatories and Israel’s pavilion did not open—as precedent. Israel will exhibit in the Arsenale rather than the Giardini; Haifa-based artist Belu-Simion Fainaru is set to represent Israel. The Biennale is also facing controversy over Russia’s planned pavilion reopening.
Why It Matters
The letter directly targets participation and programming at the Venice Biennale and could affect pavilion access and the event’s reputation.
Institution Context
For the upcoming Venice Biennale, Art Not Genocide Alliance (ANGA) released an open letter—signed by nearly 200 artists and curators—urging Israel's exclusion and accusing it of genocide and apartheid, citing 2024 protests when an earlier ANGA letter drew over 20,000 signatories and Israel’s pavilion did not open; Israel will exhibit in the Arsenale with Haifa-based Belu‑Simion Fainaru, while Russia's planned pavilion reopening also provokes controversy.
Publication Context
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Event Details
Start: Not specified
End: Not specified
Time: this year’s exhibition
Location: Venice; Arsenale and Giardini (venues)