"Artists and cultural workers made history at the Venice Biennale today as they launched a major strike that disrupted the pre-opening of the international exhibition. It is the first cultural strike in the biennale's 131-year history. At least 27 of the exhibition's 100 national pavilions were partially or fully shut down this morning, May 8, while some artists draped or altered their works in the main exhibition In Minor Keys as part of a 24-hour strike for Palestine and for workers' rights."
"The fully or partially shuttered pavilions include Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Iceland, Italy (performers only), Ireland, Japan (performers only), Korea, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Catalonia, Cyprus, Czech Republic and Slovakia, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkey."
"The strike is the outcome of months of organizing by the Art Not Genocide Alliance (ANGA) together with local activist groups including Sale Docks, Mi Riconosci?, and Biennalocene. At least three Italian unions joined the strike, guaranteeing protection to striking members. "No artist or cultural worker should be asked to share a platform with a stateperpetrating genocide," the striking parties said in a joint statement today."
"They noted that the strike is also an expression of workers' indignation over "appalling" labor conditions in the cultural sector. Members of the art world class who were roaming the Giardini to see and be seen were welcomed with shuttred pavilions and statements such as, "We stand with Palestine because we know by now that the destruction of Palestine is the destruction of the world.""
Artists and cultural workers launched a major strike that disrupted the pre-opening of the Venice Biennale. At least 27 of the exhibition’s 100 national pavilions were partially or fully shut down on May 8, with some artists draping or altering works in the main exhibition In Minor Keys. The affected pavilions included Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Iceland, Italy (performers only), Ireland, Japan (performers only), Korea, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Catalonia, Cyprus, Czech Republic and Slovakia, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkey. The strike followed months of organizing by Art Not Genocide Alliance with local activist groups, and at least three Italian unions joined to protect striking members. The action protested genocide and appalling labor conditions in the cultural sector.
Read at Hyperallergic
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