In an age of shrinking state support, the Venice Biennale president Paolo Baratta found new ways to generate revenue, enabling the Biennale to fund 87% of its operations this year. However he has just learned that his mandate has not been renewed and that, subject to being approved by the Italian senate, his successor is foodstuffs importer Giulio Malgara, a veteran of advertising, pet food, sports drink and corn oil industries who has never shown any interest in the cultural sector. So why the appointment? Former Venice mayor Massimo Cacciari says "because he is a friend of Silvio Berlusconi's".
Image: ousted Venice Biennale president Paolo Baratta
