160,000-Shekel Shortfall Threatens Israel’s Venice Biennale Pavilion
Israel’s pavilion at the Venice Biennale is facing possible closure because it lacks funding for maintenance, leaving a deficit of about 160,000 shekels. Prof. Blu Simion Fineer, the artist and Israel Prize laureate behind the pavilion, and his team say they may have to shut down the space in the coming months, even though it is scheduled to present the installation “Rose of Nothingness.”
Fineer said the war created unexpected expenses, including staying in Venice after flights were canceled during the war with Iran. He said the pavilion must be staffed for six months, but security costs have forced cuts from three guards to two, and possibly to one. “The cost of employing a guard for six months is about 100,000 shekels,” he said. He also said the team added cameras after threats that the pavilion would be vandalized and sprayed with “Free Palestine” graffiti.
In a letter sent two days ago to Nurit Tinari, head of cultural diplomacy at the Foreign Ministry, the team requested reimbursement for costs caused by the ministry’s failure to fulfill its commitments. Copies were sent to Israel’s ambassador in Rome, Jonathan Peled, and cultural attaché Dr. Maya Katzir. The letter says the Culture Ministry allocated 1.5 million shekels for the exhibition, but the Foreign Ministry, which traditionally handles pavilion operations, did not assign a pavilion manager, forcing the team to hire one itself. It also says the team paid for a Berlin communications adviser out of pocket.
A second letter was sent to Raan Shapira, head of the Culture Administration at the Culture Ministry, asking for extra funding for wartime-related expenses, including the prolonged stay in Venice and work done abroad instead of in Israel. Fineer said he cannot close the pavilion, but if the money is not paid it will close automatically because there will be no guards or staff to open it.
The Culture Ministry said it had received the request and would discuss it with the Foreign Ministry. The Foreign Ministry rejected the accusations, saying the production company is responsible for operational matters and that the ministry and Israel’s embassy in Rome worked against boycott attempts and helped ensure the pavilion opened this year.
