Venice Biennale 2024: Push for Banksy backing amid calls to review decision to pause Scotland funding

Art lover says it is important Scottish artists are given the opportunity to be showcased in next year’s festival

A Glasgow art lover says the funding for Scotland’s participation in the world’s oldest and most prestigious art festival must be immediately reinstated.

Scotland paused its involvement in the Venice Biennale in March, and the search for artists to participate in the 2024 exhibition was halted.

Denise Hooper, who has attended the festival on multiple occasions, says Scotland’s involvement must be “preserved and respected”. She is calling on the ‘Scotland + Venice’ group to review this decision and ensure artists are able to go to next year’s event.

The British Pavilion at the 2022 Venice Biennale, featuring work by Errollyn Wallen, Tanita Tikaram, Poppy Ajudha and Jacqui Dankworth. Picture: Cristiano Corte

Ms Hooper is even hoping to get renowned street artist Banksy, whose exhibition is running at the Gallery of Modern Art in Glasgow, to back her calls.

‘Scotland + Venice’ is a partnership between Creative Scotland, the British Council, the National Galleries of Scotland, Architecture and Design Scotland, V&A Dundee and the Scottish Government.

Earlier this year the group decided it was necessary to “review the current model of delivery” due to the “present financial and planning environment”, despite Scotland participating in the Biennale since 2003.

Ms Hooper said: “These international artists put Scotland on the map and we shouldn’t have to argue why they should be represented in 2024. We have some pretty amazing artists coming out of Scotland and we need to stage what they are producing.

Denise Hooper has submitted a petition to the Scottish Parliament.

“The first thing that always gets cut is art, even though it is about progress and change. It is really important to me that it is preserved and respected, because art is a major contributor to society.”

Ms Hooper, who studied art history at Glasgow University before becoming a family lawyer, has submitted a petition to the Scottish Parliament to ask for the funding arrangement to be reviewed.

She said: “In Scotland we have Banksy at GoMA – he could have gone anywhere in the world, but he chose Glasgow because he has so much respect for Scotland and reverence for the change art can bring.

“I think Scotland needs to be part of that vision. I am trying to get as many signatures as possible, but I want to try and get Bansky to sign it, so I will be taking a copy of my petition to GoMA and asking them to pass it onto him.

“If he agrees that Scotland should be represented in the international world of art, it would really boost the chances of getting this reviewed.”

A spokeswoman for Creative Scotland said pausing the funding was a “difficult”, but necessary decision. They added: “The decision also acknowledges the impact the project has on the environment and the need to consider how it can be delivered more ethically and sustainably into the future.

“This isn’t a decision to withdraw from La Biennale, which remains an important international platform for contemporary art and architecture. It is anticipated that the review process will be underway from September and opportunities to participate will be widely advertised.”

A Government spokeswoman said it recognised the “important international platform” Venice Biennale offered. The spokeswoman added: “The Scottish Government is fully committed to supporting the Scottish culture sector’s international interests and ambitions and is currently developing an international culture strategy to that end.”