Funding Shortfall Endangers Return of U.S. Biennale Sculptures

The nonprofit American Arts Conservancy, which was selected by the Trump administration to present the United States at the 2026 Venice Biennale, has announced an urgent need for additional money to dismantle and ship the pavilion’s sculptures back to the United States. The organization reports that while it raised $1.4 million, the total cost to mount the exhibition was projected at under $2.5 million, leaving a gap for the final phase of the project.

New York Times

Before the Biennale opened in the spring, the U.S. The State Department contributed a modest portion of the mounting costs but did not fund the post-exhibition logistics. The American Arts Conservancy was tasked with covering the remaining expenses.

New York Times

Jenni Parido, commissioner for the U.S.

New York Times

• “While we have accomplished a tremendous amount in a relatively short period,” — Jenni Parido, the commissionerfor the U

New York Times

If the funding shortfall is not resolved, the sculptures could remain stranded in Italy, undermining the United States’ cultural presence at a premier global art event and raising questions about the sustainability of nonprofit-led national exhibitions abroad.

New York Times