Major backtrack as sacked artists rehired

Perth Now

03-07-2025

The head of Australia's arts funding body has backtracked and issued an apology to two artists who were sacked as representatives to the Venice Biennale, before being reinstated in a major backflip.
Artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino were initially selected as the artistic team to represent the Australian Pavilion at the internationally-renowned 2026 arts festival held in Venice, Italy.
But in February the pair were controversially dumped by Creative Australia after questions were raised in parliament about previous artworks by Mr Sabsabi. Michael Dagostino is the director of the Campbelltown Arts Centre. Supplied Credit: Supplied Khaled Sabsabi with his works at Mosman Art Gallery. Supplied Credit: The Daily Telegraph
Following a review released on Thursday that found 'a series of missteps, assumptions and missed opportunities' in the decision-making process the artist and curator were reinstated.
Opposition arts spokeswoman Claire Chandler cited the artworks in parliament, and hours later the creative agency had backflipped on the pair's appointment.
One of the works showed footage of the September 11 attacks spliced with a clip of George W. Bush saying 'thank you very much'.
Another contained depictions of then-Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Creative Australia acting chairman Wesley Enoch has since apologised to Mr Sabsabi and Mr Dagostino for the 'hurt and pain that they've gone through in this process'. Wesley Enoch AM, Acting Chair of Creative Australia. Creative Australia Credit: Supplied
He acknowledged the 'personal cost' that Mr Sabsabi and Mr Dagostino had paid in this saga.
Mr Enoch reiterated the board had gone through a 'very rigorous process' which found reinstating the pair was 'the best option'.
One former board member, sculptor Lindy Lee, quit the board at the time in protest of Mr Sabsabi and Dagostino's sacking.
She told the ABC because of Mr Sabsabi's background his artwork was misinterpreted as supportive of Nasrallah.
Coalition Arts spokesman Julian Leeser has been critical of the decision to reinstate Mr Sabsabi, telling RN Breakfast he thought Creative Australia had made 'the wrong decision' the reinstatement. Opposition arts spokesman Julian Leeser said he thought that Creative Australia had made 'the wrong decision'. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia
'The representative of Australia on the world stage should reflect our values and to reinstate this artist as our representative at the Biennale and to give them taxpayer funds I think flies in the face of those values,' he said.
Mr Leeser did not make clear which values he thought Mr Sabsabi and Mr Dagostino did not represent, however he went on to reference the artists' works as having a 'history of presenting terrorist leaders'.
He cited declining social cohesion as a reason that 'particularly at this time, this is the wrong person to be representing our country'.
Mr Sabsabi has consistently maintained that his works do not promote terrorism – a view that was backed by Federal Arts Minister Tony Burke following the board's about-face. Arts Minister Tony Burke supported the pair's reinstatement. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia
'The report has shown that these works have not been regarded in any way, as promoting those involved with terrorism – the artist has made the same thing clear.
'If anything, the body of evidence says that these works are the exact opposite of something that could be seen to promote terrorism.
'Bearing that in mind, it makes complete sense that Creative Australia have recommissioned Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino. Their decision has my full support.'
For their part, the artist-curator pair have accepted their reinstatement and said they will 'recommit ourselves fully to this project'.