Venice Biennale Postpones Award Ceremony and Introduces 'Visitor Lions'

The award ceremony for the 61st International Art Exhibition, originally scheduled for May 9, has been postponed to November 22 - the last day of the biennale.

This decision was explained by the resignation of the international jury, as well as the "exceptional nature of the current international geopolitical situation."

The organizers also decided to introduce two new awards - the "Visitor Lions," which will be determined by the exhibition's visitors. They will be awarded:

• for the best participant in the main exhibition In Minor Keys;
• for the best national participation.

Visitors who have purchased tickets and attended both exhibition locations from May 9 to November 22 will be able to vote. Each visitor will have one vote in each category.

The organizers of the biennale emphasized that all national pavilions were allowed to be evaluated "on the principle of inclusivity and equal treatment of all participants."

"This aligns with the fundamental spirit of La Biennale, which is based on openness, dialogue, and a rejection of any forms of closure or censorship. La Biennale aims to be - and must remain - a place of truce for the sake of art, culture, and artistic freedom."

Earlier, six members of the international jury of the Venice Biennale, along with chair Solange Oliveira Farkas, resigned.

In light of the jury's resignation, the organizers have focused on public participation by introducing new awards - the "Visitor Lions," which will be determined by the viewers themselves, writes bb.lv. The inclusion of all national pavilions in the voting emphasizes the commitment to openness and inclusivity, but the changes that have occurred indicate a serious influence of the global political situation on cultural institutions.