Uncertainty Surrounds US Representation at 2026 Venice Biennale due to Trump's Arts Policy Revamp
Art Chaos: Will the US Skip the 2026 Venice Biennale?
As Trump reshapes U.S. art programs and funding, the future of America's participation in the 2026 Venice Biennale hangs in the balance. Nate Freeman from Vanity Fair dives into the messy world of artistic politics to uncover whether the US will grace the prestigious Biennale or bow out.
The Venice Biennale, a grand spectacle that draws over 800,000 visitors every two years, presents a Herculean challenge. Each participating nation chooses a single artist to represent them in the event, which is hosted in the historic Giardini garden.
Normally, the cultural exchange team at the U.S. State Department would have already commenced work on the US pavilion by this point. In the past, the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs would announce a federal grant of around $375,000 and invite artists to submit applications through their online portal. However, time is running short, and the process appears to be way behind schedule.
Kathleen Ash-Milby, the curator of Native American art at the Portland Art Museum, expresses her concerns. "When they open the portal, it's not like it's open for two weeks. They open it for a couple of months, and then they need a couple of months to process it," she says. "And if you don't get notified until September or October, I don't know how you could manage it."
With just one year until the Biennale and numerous countries already announcing their pavilion artists, it seems that many have already started preparations. These shows take months to plan, and even shipping artwork to Venice can take time.
Further impeding the U.S.'s participation is the shutdown of the National Endowment for the Arts and the vacancy of the assistant secretary position at the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, who typically coordinates the Biennale selection.
Despite these obstacles, funds have been set aside by the Biden administration as part of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs' January 2024 budget. The application portal is open, but it seems that the guidelines have changed, emphasizing the promotion of "American values and policies" and countering negative stereotypes.
Unsurprisingly, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts have been stripped from the guidelines, following Trump's nationwide removal of such initiatives. Participants must comply with all anti-discrimination laws, and no DEI programs that violate these laws will be accepted. The State Department will also monitor site visits to assess the recipient's capabilities.
Historically, the U.S. has only missed the Biennale during the years leading up to World War II and during the war in 1942 and 1944. However, in recent years, other countries have held back due to political upheaval, such as Russia, who has been absent for the last two years due to the conflict in Ukraine, and Israel in 2024, when their artist refused to participate until a ceasefire in Gaza was reached and Israeli hostages were released.
With the world becoming increasingly unstable, it remains uncertain whether the U.S. will grace the 2026 Venice Biennale. The delays, financial constraints, and bureaucratic hurdles cast a shadow over America's artistic representation on the world stage. The future is uncertain, but one thing is clear: the Biennale is gearing up for a thrilling spectacle, and the world eagerly awaits its outcome.
- Nate Freeman from Vanity Fair is investigating whether the United States will participate in the prestigious 2026 Venice Biennale, given the current reshaping of U.S. art programs and funding under Trump's administration.
- The Venice Biennale, held every two years, is a massive event that attracts over 800,000 visitors, where each participating nation selects a single artist to represent them in the historic Giardini garden.
- Typically, the U.S State Department would have started work on the US pavilion by now, but the process appears to be behind schedule, raising concerns from curators like Kathleen Ash-Milby.
- With just one year until the Biennale, numerous countries have already announced their pavilion artists, and these shows require months of planning, even shipping artwork to Venice takes time.
- The shutdown of the National Endowment for the Arts and the vacancy of the assistant secretary position at the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, who typically coordinates the Biennale selection, are further impeding the U.S.'s participation.
- Despite these obstacles, funds have been set aside by the Biden administration for the 2024 budget, underscoring America's continued interest in the Biennale. However, the application guidelines have changed to prioritize the promotion of "American values and policies" and counter negative stereotypes.
- In recent years, countries like Russia and Israel have also refrained from participating due to political upheaval, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the U.S.'s decision to attend the 2026 Venice Biennale.
- As the world becomes increasingly unstable, the Biennale is still set to offer an exciting spectacle, but the future of America's artistic representation on the world stage remains uncertain, as delays, financial constraints, and bureaucratic hurdles loom large.
