11 March 2026

Our standpoint with regard to the participation of the Russian Federation in the 61st International Art Exhibition in Venice – La Biennale di Venezia

Minister of Culture and National Heritage Marta Cienkowska has signed a joint appeal of ministers of culture and foreign affairs from twenty-two countries, calling for the exclusion of the Russian Federation from this year’s Biennale. Among the signatories of the letter are representatives of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Ireland, Latvia (the initiator of the protest), Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden and Ukraine. The letter was sent to Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, chair of the La Biennale di Venezia Foundation, and to the members of the Foundation Council, and was also sent to the Italian Minister of Culture, Alessandro Giuli. A statement from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage can be found here.

As the institution responsible for organizing exhibitions at the Polish Pavilion at the International Art Exhibition and the International Exhibition of Architecture – La Biennale di Venezia, Zachęta – National Gallery of Art categorically opposes the participation of the Russian Federation in the 61st International Art Exhibition in Venice. Zachęta’s position has remained firm since 2022. We express solidarity with Ukraine, its citizens and the arts community touched by the ravages of the war.

Following the letter from the ministers of culture and foreign affairs, Agnieszka Pindera, commissioner of the Polish Pavilion and director of Zachęta, has signed the letter from the group of commissioners. The full letter is available here.