Embattled US Venice Biennale Pavilion is Seeking Donations
6April 30, 2026
Amidst a storm of controversy that’s seeing manycall for the exclusionof the United States, Russia, and Israel from theVenice Biennale, the American Arts Conservancy (AAC)—an organization that wasfoundedjust last year by the Trump administration—has begun crowdfunding on its website to support this year’s United States Pavilion,Hyperallergicreports.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to restore America’s artistic presence abroad while realigning its foundations at home,” theAAC websitereads. “At the American Arts Conservancy, we champion American artists and the enduring power of cultural diplomacy. The Venice Biennale—the world’s most influential contemporary art exhibition—has long served as a stage for nations to share their creative voices.”
The AAC website requests donations starting from $100, stating that supporters will “help sustain America’s presence within this historic conversation, ensuring that our nation’s creative voice continues to inspire and resonate across the globe.”
This year’s United States Pavilion will feature sculptor Alma Allen, after sculptor Barbara Chase-Riboud and photographer William Eggleston both turned down offers to participate. While the US government has already contributed $375,000 to the pavilion’s funding, the State Department claims that the “total exhibition cost significantly exceeds the federal grant amount.”