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The Latest Breaking News from Venice Biennale

Coalition to cut 10% of Creative Australia funding to divert to Melbourne Jewish Arts Quarter

Costings announcement follows the high-profile withdrawal of artist Khaled Sabsabi’s appointment as Australia’s Venice Biennale representative

The Guardian - AU

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

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for artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino to represent Australia at the 2026 Venice Biennale was rescinded, the statement from Creative Australia’s board said their selection now posed “an unacceptable risk” and “could undermine our goal of bringing Australians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

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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

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

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The agency has been fending off claims of political interference and censorship since it rescinded the selection of Western Sydney artist Khaled Sabsabi earlier this month.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

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

‘Artists should let the cat out of the bag’: Lubaina Himid to represent Britain at 2026 Venice Biennale

She was once forced to exhibit in a corridor by the ICA toilet. Now the 70-year-old artist is going to the ‘Olympics of art’ where she has ‘all sorts of things to say about Britain’s history and the British pavilion itself’

The Guardian - UK

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

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

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The Guardian - AU

‘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

AAP

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.

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."

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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 - UK

‘It’s not a bubble’: Indigenous art comes to London after post-Venice backlash

Curators and artists say this is a time of overdue recognition but others are cautious about the longevity of the moment

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 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.

Wallpaper

Don't miss Luxembourg's retro-futuristic lab pavilion in Venice

As the Venice Biennale enters its last few weeks, catch 'A Comparative Dialogue Act' at the Luxembourg Pavilion

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