In a major about-face, Creative Australia has reinstated artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino as representatives of Australia at the 2026 Venice Biennale.
The board rescinded their invitation in February in a blatantly racist and politically motivated decision that sparked community outrage and widespread pushback from artists, community members and arts workers, including some at Creative Australia.
The decision to reinstate the pair is a powerful sign that community pressure can win, even when institutions are determined to shut down political expression amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
The saga began with an outrageous scare campaign, initiated by Liberal senator Claire Chandler in parliament, who accused Sabsabi of creating art supporting terrorism. Sabsabi had created work dealing with Lebanese politics and depicted Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasralllah. His work also dealt with the events of 9/11 and how George Bush used this context to invade Afghanistan.
After a call from Labor MP and Arts Minister at the time Tony Burke to the Creative Australia CEO, the board rescinded Sabsabi and Dagostino’s appointment just five days after it was announced, citing concern about a “prolonged and divisive debate”.
But a prolonged response is exactly what they got. More than 4000 people, many of them artists and arts sector workers, signed an open letter calling for Sabsabi and Dagostino’s reinstatement and 14 of Australia’s former Venice Biennale pavilion curators issued a similar joint statement. A group of Creative Australia workers walked out of work in protest.
All five of the other artist and curator teams shortlisted for the Biennale penned a statement in solidarity with Sabsabi and Dagostino, and it soon became clear that no other team would be willing to fill the appointment, effectively forcing the Australian pavilion in the Biennale to remain empty.
The issue struck a chord with community members outside the arts too, in a context where teachers, academics, nurses, public servants and others workers had been threatened or disciplined by employers over Palestine.
Community members held a small rally outside Creative Australia offices, with speeches including a teacher from Teachers and School Staff for Palestine who made the link to censorship in schools.
The avalanche of support for Sabsabi and Dagostino forced an independent review, which finally led the board to reverse its decision. This is a great example of how we can resist the repression of pro-Palestine voices. As the genocide worsens each day, a growing number of people are unwilling to accept “social cohesion” as an excuse for censorship.
By Matilda Fay
