Nine days before the world's most prestigious art exhibition was about to open, the jury chosen to pick its winners resigned. On April 30, all five members of the international jury for the 61st Venice Biennale quit together, causing one of the biggest crises in the 130-year-old institution's modern history. The next morning, the Biennale Foundation abolished its famous Golden and Silver Lion awards and replaced them with two "Visitors' Lions," decided by public voting.
The problem started with a single document. On April 22, the five jurors published a statement saying they would not consider countries whose leaders have been charged with crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court. This statement clearly referred to Russia and Israel, both of which have pavilions at this year's Venice Biennale. Russia's return was already controversial after it invaded Ukraine.
When the Biennale Foundation refused to accept the jurors' position, the jurors resigned. The five included important figures like Brazilian curator Solange Oliveira Farkas and Yale professor Marta Kuzma.
Instead of expert judges, ticket holders who visit both main exhibition spaces can now vote for the winners. This is the first time in Venice Biennale history that the public, not experts, will choose the prize winners. The awards ceremony has been moved from May to November. The exhibition will still open on May 9 and run until November 22, but the famous golden lions will have a new voice this year.