AICSA joins our colleagues around the country – artists, curators and arts organisations – in condemning Creative Australia’s decision to rescind the commission of the artistic team chosen for the Venice Biennale 2026, artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino, just five days after their appointment was announced.
The unprecedented decision was made by the Board of Creative Australia (formerly the Australia Council for the Arts) on the evening of Thursday 13 February, only hours after criticism of the appointment of Sabsabi, an acclaimed Lebanese Australian artist, was published by The Australian and raised in Federal Parliament Question Time by newly appointed Shadow Cabinet Member and Shadow Minister for Science and the Arts, Senator Claire Chandler.
As reported by the ABC, cultural leaders across the arts and cultural sector have spoken out, including philanthropist Simon Mordant, twice the Australian commissioner at the Venice Biennale, who has withdrawn as an international ambassador and major donor to next year’s event. Staff and Board resignations have also occurred and the short listed candidates have indicated they will not agree to replace Sabsabi and Dagostino if offered.
The peak body for visual arts in Australia, NAVA, has released a statement of support for Khaled Sabsabi and calling on “Creative Australia to reinstate Sabsabi and Dagostino, provide transparency around this decision and urges the Australian Government to reaffirm its commitment to arms-length funding. The arts must remain independent. Anything less threatens the integrity and future of our sector.”
Creative Australia-funded arts criticism collective Memo Review have released an open letter which colleagues can still sign. The letter draws attention to Creative Australia’s legislated statutory functions, the rigorous peer assessment process that appointed Sabsabi and Dagostino, and the principle of arms-length funding and decision-making.
AICSA echoes these calls. We believe the actions of Creative Australia and its Board to be an alarming capitulation to political pressure that threatens the integrity of Creative Australia’s arms-length decision-making processes, its charter and commitment to artistic freedom, and presents a deep contradiction to its work towards anti-racism, and cultural rights, safety and competence.
AICSA Co-Chair Emma Webb OAM, said:
“This is truly a shameful moment in the history of Australia Council for the Arts/Creative Australia which once was seen as a staunch defender and advocate for artists in Australia.
“Throughout the still recent years of former LNP governments we saw the weakening of our federal arts statutory body through funding cuts, political interventions, so called culture wars led by the Murdoch press against practising artists and the Council, and a weakening over time of arms-length funding and peer assessment processes. All these things The Hon. Tony Burke MP said he would put to an end to as Minister for the Arts.
“However, it has taken half a day of racist political pressure last Thursday, in the context of the leadup to Federal Election in these fractious, Trumpian times, for this to be shown to be unfortunately not the case. Australian artists, and art and culture, deserve so much better than this sorry situation.”
“The Minister, and Creative Australia, must apologise to and reinstate the Australian artistic team selected for the Venice Biennale 2026, and reaffirm a commitment to arms-length decision-making that upholds artistic freedom and the importance of a statutory authority working for the benefit of art and culture without fear or favour.”
AICSA will keep members and supporters up to date with this evolving issue including further info on the Federal Election and ways to support arts and culture.
If you would like to voice your concern, we encourage members to contact Creative Australia Media Manager Brianna Roberts, Creative Australia CEO Adrian Collette AM and Minister for the Arts the Hon Tony Burke MP.