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The Latest Breaking News from Creative Australia

Venice Biennale pavilion could be empty, Creative Australia chief tells senators

Adrian Collette admits decision to drop Khaled Sabsabi risks having nothing on show but he and chair won’t quit

The Guardian - AU

From Creative Australia to Sydney writers’ festival, the direct threat facing the arts is coming from within

In this adapted extract from What’s the Big Idea? Louise Adler looks at the failure of Australian cultural leaders shying from risk and artistic vision – and letting the tail wag the dog

The Guardian - AU

Arts awards postponed amid Venice selection uproar

The Asia Pacific Arts Awards have been postponed, amid a row over the decision to ditch the team picked for the Venice Biennale.

AAP

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Artists who represented Australia at Venice Biennale call for Khaled Sabsabi to be reinstated

Open letter from some of the country’s most distinguished artists ‘strongly protests’ at the removal of Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino

The Guardian - AU

‘This could have all been avoided’: how Creative Australia allowed itself to be blind-sided over its Venice Biennale pick

High-profile artists and curators stunned by Creative Australia’s swift abandonment of Khaled Sabsabi, the art community, and the complex nature of art itself

The Guardian - AU

Venice row risks Aust's reputation, major gallery says

The Museum of Contemporary Art has become the first major gallery to publicly back the artistic team selected for Venice, then sensationally dumped.

AAP

Palestine protest gear in art a security risk, says NGA

Artworks featuring Palestine protest material have been covered up due to security risks, says the NGA. The gallery has been criticised by an Islamic peak body.

AAP

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Creative Australia says it won’t reinstate artist Khaled Sabsabi for Venice Biennale at tense all-staff meeting

Exclusive: The western Sydney artist was dropped from representing Australia just days after being selected

The Guardian - AU

Venice biennale winners 'appalled' at artist dumping

Australia's winners of the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale have added their voices to calls to reinstate the nation's 2026 artistic team.

AAP

‘No artist’ will want to represent Australia at Venice Biennale after Sabsabi dumped, former museum head says

Elizabeth Ann Macgregor says Tony Burke has questions to answer after Khaled Sabsabi’s offer was rescinded but the arts minister has denied involvement

The Guardian - AU

Minister made phone call before Venice pick reversal

The arts minister spoke to the chief of Creative Australia after questions were asked in parliament about the artist chosen to go to the Venice Biennale.

AAP

Albanese says RBA rate cut ‘won’t have an impact’ on timing of federal election – as it happened

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The Guardian - AU

Afternoon Update: more backlash over Biennale artist axing; NZ tourism campaign ridiculed; and what it’s like living with OCD

The abrupt dumping of Khaled Sabsabi from the event prompted artist Lindy Lee to quit the board of Creative Australia

The Guardian - AU

Would Sidney Nolan be cancelled for painting Ned Kelly today? That’s what Creative Australia has done to Khaled Sabsabi

Despite the perceived outrage at Khaled Sabsabi’s depiction of Hassan Nasrallah in his 2007 work You, Australian art has long made subjects of outlaws and questionable figures. And it is all the richer for it.

The Conversation

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The Guardian - AU

Tony Burke says he called Creative Australia chief executive before board meeting when Biennale selection rescinded

Arts minister – who has denied political interference – says chief executive told him the board would meet to discuss Khaled Sabsabi’s selection

Pedestrian.tv

Creative Australia Facing Backlash & Inquiry Demands As Venice Biennale Furore Deepens

“To award the submission to two of Australia’s great creative minds, only to revoke it six days later after political interference sets a dangerous precedent."

AAP

Demands for inquiry into dumping of Aust Venice art duo

How and why did Creative Australia uninvite the team it picked for the Venice Biennale? There are calls for an independent inquiry to find out.

The Guardian - AU

Embattled casino operator Star offered $650m lifeline – as it happened

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The Guardian - AU

Artist Lindy Lee quits Creative Australia board after ‘heartbreaking’ decision to dump Biennale pick

Lee calls unanimous decision a ‘violation’ of principle of valuing an artist’s voice

The Guardian - AU

Creative Australia hit by resignations over decision to withdraw Khaled Sabsabi from Venice Biennale

Visual arts head Mikala Tai and program manager Tahmina Maskinyar resign in support of Lebanese-born artist

The Conversation

‘A shameful call by Creative Australia’: the arts community reacts to Khaled Sabsabi being dropped from the Venice Biennale

To be selected as the artist and curator team to represent Australia at the Venice Biennale is considered the ultimate exhibition for an artistic team. To have your selection rescinded, as has now happened to the 2026 team of Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino, is without precedent.

AAP

Aussie Venice picks 'extremely hurt' after being dumped

The artist and curator who were to represent Australia at the Venice Biennale say they are hurt and disappointed, after their selection was reversed.

The Guardian - UK

Khaled Sabsabi dropped as Australia’s representative to Venice Biennale

Amid political pressure, Creative Australia says deselecting the Lebanese-born artist will avoid ‘divisive debate’

AAP

Creative Australia ditches Venice Biennale artistic duo

Arts funding body Creative Australia has dumped the artist and curator it selected to represent Australia at the Venice Biennale.

AAP

Western Sydney artist duo represent Australia at Venice

A pair of western Sydney art-makers, visual artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino, will represent Australia at next year's Venice Biennale.

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