Creative Australia Reinstates Artist and Curator for 2026 Venice Biennale

In a significant reversal, Creative Australia has reinstated Lebanese-Australian artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino as Australia's representatives for the 2026 Venice Biennale. This decision follows an independent review that identified "missteps, assumptions, and missed opportunities" in the initial process that led to their removal.

Sabsabi and Dagostino were initially selected in February 2025 to represent Australia at the prestigious art exhibition. However, shortly after the announcement, Creative Australia's board rescinded their selection, citing concerns over potential divisive debates stemming from Sabsabi's past works. These included a 2007 video installation featuring former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and a 2006 piece depicting the September 11 attacks.

The board stated that a "prolonged and divisive debate" about the selection posed an "unacceptable risk to public support for Australia's artistic community." This decision faced significant backlash from the arts community, with many advocating for the reinstatement of Sabsabi and Dagostino. An independent review identified missteps in the board's decision-making process. Consequently, on July 2, 2025, Creative Australia reinstated Sabsabi and Dagostino, with acting chair Wesley Enoch publicly apologizing for the "hurt and pain" caused.

The initial decision to rescind the selection led to significant backlash from the arts community. Artists shortlisted for the Venice Biennale, including James Nguyen, Hayley Millar Baker, and Jenna Mayilema Lee, issued a statement urging Creative Australia to reconsider its decision. They emphasized that revoking support for Sabsabi and Dagostino was "antithetical to the goodwill and hard-fought artistic independence, freedom of speech, and moral courage that is at the core of arts in Australia."

Several resignations followed the board's decision. Lindy Lee, a Creative Australia board member, resigned in protest. Additionally, Mikala Tai, head of the visual arts department, and program manager Tahmina Maskinyar stepped down. Simon Mordant, a prominent arts philanthropist and twice the Australian commissioner at the Venice Biennale, resigned as an international ambassador and major donor, expressing that he was "appalled" by the decision.

In response to the controversy, Creative Australia commissioned an independent review by Blackhall & Pearl. The review found "a series of missteps, assumptions, and missed opportunities" in the decision-making process but did not identify a single or predominant failure. On July 2, 2025, Creative Australia reinstated Sabsabi and Dagostino as Australia's representatives for the 2026 Venice Biennale. Acting chair Wesley Enoch publicly apologized for the "hurt and pain" caused, acknowledging that the artist's work had been "mischaracterized."

Khaled Sabsabi was born in Tripoli, Lebanon, in 1965 and migrated to Australia in 1976. He began his artistic career in Sydney's hip-hop scene before transitioning to visual arts, focusing on themes of identity and cultural representation. His works have been exhibited in over 90 solo and group exhibitions worldwide, including the Adelaide Biennial of Art, the Biennale of Sydney, the Shanghai Biennale, and the Marrakech Biennale.

The controversy surrounding Sabsabi's selection and subsequent reinstatement highlights the tension between artistic freedom and political sensitivities. The initial decision to rescind the selection raised concerns about censorship and the influence of political discourse on artistic expression. The backlash and eventual reversal underscore the arts community's commitment to upholding artistic independence and the importance of transparent decision-making processes in cultural institutions.

This reinstatement not only restores Sabsabi and Dagostino's positions but also serves as a reaffirmation of the principles of artistic freedom and the integrity of the selection process for Australia's representation on the international stage.