Venice Biennale President Pietrangelo Buttafuoco has said this year's exhibition will also provide a platform for dissidents after coming under fire for allowing Russia to have a pavilion.
The European Commission on Tuesday condemned decision, saying it put EU funding for the event would at risk, while Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli has called on the Biennale to revoke the invitation to the Russians.
Buttafuoco told daily newspaper Il Foglio that the Biennale was preparing two projects to give space to dissidents.
"The first one commemorates the 50th anniversary of (former Biennale president) Carlo Ripa di Meana's Biennale del Dissenso (Biennale of Dissent) by inviting five leading figures who are currently unwelcome to their governments, from the US, Israel, China, Russia, and even the EU," Buttafuoco said.
"I won't name names for obvious reasons.
