Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles.
One app.

Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles. One news app.

The Latest Breaking News from Michael DAgostino

Restore Venice artist's name or be sued, says gallerist

Artist Khaled Sabsabi has suffered personally and professionally since Creative Australia rescinded his commission for the Venice Biennale, his gallerist says.

AAP

Ditched art duo drum up cash for Venice project

After Creative Australia rescinded their Biennale commission, Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino are fundraising for an independent artwork in Venice instead.

AAP

Khaled Sabsabi show cancelled one month after sacking from Venice Biennale

Monash University has ‘indefinitely postponed’ upcoming exhibition at Monash University Museum of Art in Melbourne, after ‘consultation with our communities’

The Guardian - AU

From analysis to the latest developments in health,
read the most diverse news in one place.

Mass letter urges arts minister to act over Venice snub

Protests against the dumping of Australia's art team for the Venice Biennale continue, with hundreds of artists and curators demanding government action.

AAP

Who gets to be political in Australian art?

When the invitation for artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino to represent Australia at the 2026 Venice Biennale was rescinded, the statement from Creative Australia’s board said their selection now posed “an unacceptable risk” and “could undermine our goal of bringing Australians together”.

The Conversation

Creative Australia’s decisions should be peer reviewed and at arm’s length. Where did things go wrong?

For the past three weeks the arts have been dominated by a recent decision made by the board of Creative Australia. On February 7 it was announced Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino had been chosen as the artistic team to represent Australia at the Venice Biennale in 2026.

The Conversation

Venice team reversal was racist, art awards judge says

The revocation of Australia's Venice Biennale team was racist, writer and judge of the postponed Asia Pacific Arts Awards Jinghua Qian says.

AAP

Read news from The Economist, FT, and more,
with one subscription

Creative Australia boss forced to refute rumour he had resigned as fallout over Khaled Sabsabi dumping continues

Adrian Collette sends all-staff email denying that he and the chair of Creative Australia’s board had quit amid calls for resignations

The Guardian - AU

Venice Biennale team wants apology as supporters rally

The artist and curator dumped from their Venice Biennale commission have called for Creative Australia to explain and apologise, as their supporters rally.

AAP

Khaled Sabsabi pledges to show Venice Biennale work despite Creative Australia decision to drop him

Artist and curator Michael Dagostino break silence following Creative Australia decision to withdraw them as representatives

The Guardian - AU

Creative Australia Breaks Silence About Venice Biennale Scandal In Tense Senate Hearing

The agency has been fending off claims of political interference and censorship since it rescinded the selection of Western Sydney artist Khaled Sabsabi earlier this month.

Pedestrian.tv

Call for resignation of arts chief after fiery hearing

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has called for Creative Australia's chief executive to resign, over the decision to ditch the Venice Biennale team.

AAP

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

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

Get all your
news in one place.

100’s of premium titles.
One news app.

The Guardian - AU

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

AAP

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.

The Guardian - AU

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

Get all your
news in one place.

100’s of premium titles.
One news app.

AAP

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.

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."

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.

1 2

People

From analysis to the latest developments in health,
read the most diverse news in one place.

Organisations

The National Gallery of Australia

42 stories

Senate Estimates

21 stories

the Museum of Contemporary Art

13 stories

Venice

10 stories

Read news from The Economist, FT, and more,
with one subscription

Topics

Places

Fourteen days free

Download the app

One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.