Latest news with #2026Biennale
Sydney Morning Herald
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Creative Australia is not fit-for-purpose': Arts heavyweights demand answers
'There's not an arts organisation in the country that hasn't had to provide their increasingly risk-averse boards with risk assessments,' she says. 'If Creative Australia was blindsided by the complexities of inviting Sabsabi, it suggests either a worrying level of naivete or a political judgment that a brown artist from the Western suburbs will tick a whole lot of boxes. Either rationale suggests CA is not fit-for-purpose.' The Blackhall & Pearl report into CA's governance and decision-making process for the 2026 Biennale makes the point that it is 'surprising' that 'given dedicated and experienced crisis management capabilities were available to Creative Australia, these were not called upon … until a day or two before the launch'. Adler says the review does not go far enough. 'For all the detail, [it] does not actually clarify the decision-to-cancel process. The CEO together with the visual arts staff made the decision to appoint Sabsabi, it was then decided to call a board meeting to recommend the cancellation of the appointment. 'What we do know is that the decision to cancel was a reaction to political pressure ... Those who briefed Senator Chandler will probably never be outed. But it is not hard to join the dots.' Adler's voice is one of many demanding more answers. Juliana Engberg, a former Venice Biennale pavilion curator in 2007 and 2019, said the review was clear on Creative Australia's failures and that required an immediate response. 'Creative Australia must renovate its board and leadership,' she said. 'Until that occurs there will be a continual distrust for Creative Australia in the arts community. The review makes clear the substantial flaws of process and judgement that led to one of the most disastrous and unfair episodes in Creative Australia's history.' Engberg says the arts community demonstrated unity and strength over the past four months: 'It collectively enacted a sustained campaign to ensure the miscarriage of justice against Khaled Sabsabi would not go unchecked and would not be accepted.' Penelope Benton, executive director of the peak lobby group, the National Association for the Visual Arts, said the review points to some big lessons. 'Proper risk planning means being ready to back the artist. That is essential if we want bold, ambitious work to thrive on the world stage,' Benton said. 'The handling of this situation raised a lot of serious concerns. Reinstating the selected artistic team is a necessary correction, one that helps to repair confidence and ensure accountability going forward.' Benton added that the reinstatement sends a strong message about Creative Australia's future direction. 'It shows that public institutions can acknowledge when things go wrong and take meaningful steps to make things right. That takes integrity, and it is an important part of restoring trust.' Max Delany, former head of Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, writing on Instagram described what happened as 'a deeply regrettable and shameful episode'. He says the CA report 'fails to grapple with several critical underlying and causal issues'. 'Chief among these is the pernicious, vexatious and corrosive influence of lobbyists, conservative media and culture warriors on our public discourse and on the integrity of our cultural institutions – forces that remain largely unexamined in its findings.' Shadow arts spokesperson Julian Leeser protested Sabsabi's reinstatement, saying Arts Minister Tony Burke had 'serious questions to answer about the credibility of Creative Australia' for a deeply flawed process that 'diminishes the power of Australian art as a 'tool of soft diplomacy''. 'When the government gives a wink and a nod to decisions like this, it sends a signal that undermines our laws, weakens social cohesion and risks dividing Australians at home, while damaging our reputation abroad,' he said. Creative Australia's move will be closely noted by players in other high-profile cases. Later this year, the case of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra versus pianist Jayson Gillham will be heard in the federal court. The MSO removed Gillham from its line-up after he made unauthorised comments about Palestinian journalists being deliberately targeted by Israel's military in Gaza at an MSO recital in August last year. A hearing in the matter of the State Library Victoria versus writers Omar Sakr, Jinghua Qian, Alison Evans and Ariel Ries is expected in the next few months. The authors were sacked as contractors to SLV in March 2024 and argue they were dismissed because of their pro-Palestinian views. SLV denied political views prompted the decision, saying it needed to review its policies and procedures.
The Age
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Age
‘Creative Australia is not fit-for-purpose': Arts heavyweights demand answers
'There's not an arts organisation in the country that hasn't had to provide their increasingly risk-averse boards with risk assessments,' she says. 'If Creative Australia was blindsided by the complexities of inviting Sabsabi, it suggests either a worrying level of naivete or a political judgment that a brown artist from the Western suburbs will tick a whole lot of boxes. Either rationale suggests CA is not fit-for-purpose.' The Blackhall & Pearl report into CA's governance and decision-making process for the 2026 Biennale makes the point that it is 'surprising' that 'given dedicated and experienced crisis management capabilities were available to Creative Australia, these were not called upon … until a day or two before the launch'. Adler says the review does not go far enough. 'For all the detail, [it] does not actually clarify the decision-to-cancel process. The CEO together with the visual arts staff made the decision to appoint Sabsabi, it was then decided to call a board meeting to recommend the cancellation of the appointment. 'What we do know is that the decision to cancel was a reaction to political pressure ... Those who briefed Senator Chandler will probably never be outed. But it is not hard to join the dots.' Adler's voice is one of many demanding more answers. Juliana Engberg, a former Venice Biennale pavilion curator in 2007 and 2019, said the review was clear on Creative Australia's failures and that required an immediate response. 'Creative Australia must renovate its board and leadership,' she said. 'Until that occurs there will be a continual distrust for Creative Australia in the arts community. The review makes clear the substantial flaws of process and judgement that led to one of the most disastrous and unfair episodes in Creative Australia's history.' Engberg says the arts community demonstrated unity and strength over the past four months: 'It collectively enacted a sustained campaign to ensure the miscarriage of justice against Khaled Sabsabi would not go unchecked and would not be accepted.' Penelope Benton, executive director of the peak lobby group, the National Association for the Visual Arts, said the review points to some big lessons. 'Proper risk planning means being ready to back the artist. That is essential if we want bold, ambitious work to thrive on the world stage,' Benton said. 'The handling of this situation raised a lot of serious concerns. Reinstating the selected artistic team is a necessary correction, one that helps to repair confidence and ensure accountability going forward.' Benton added that the reinstatement sends a strong message about Creative Australia's future direction. 'It shows that public institutions can acknowledge when things go wrong and take meaningful steps to make things right. That takes integrity, and it is an important part of restoring trust.' Max Delany, former head of Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, writing on Instagram described what happened as 'a deeply regrettable and shameful episode'. He says the CA report 'fails to grapple with several critical underlying and causal issues'. 'Chief among these is the pernicious, vexatious and corrosive influence of lobbyists, conservative media and culture warriors on our public discourse and on the integrity of our cultural institutions – forces that remain largely unexamined in its findings.' Shadow arts spokesperson Julian Leeser protested Sabsabi's reinstatement, saying Arts Minister Tony Burke had 'serious questions to answer about the credibility of Creative Australia' for a deeply flawed process that 'diminishes the power of Australian art as a 'tool of soft diplomacy''. 'When the government gives a wink and a nod to decisions like this, it sends a signal that undermines our laws, weakens social cohesion and risks dividing Australians at home, while damaging our reputation abroad,' he said. Creative Australia's move will be closely noted by players in other high-profile cases. Later this year, the case of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra versus pianist Jayson Gillham will be heard in the federal court. The MSO removed Gillham from its line-up after he made unauthorised comments about Palestinian journalists being deliberately targeted by Israel's military in Gaza at an MSO recital in August last year. A hearing in the matter of the State Library Victoria versus writers Omar Sakr, Jinghua Qian, Alison Evans and Ariel Ries is expected in the next few months. The authors were sacked as contractors to SLV in March 2024 and argue they were dismissed because of their pro-Palestinian views. SLV denied political views prompted the decision, saying it needed to review its policies and procedures.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Challenges Plague the 2026 Venice Biennale, as Time to Mount an Exhibition Dwindles
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." The application grant portal for the 2026 Venice Biennale, known as the Olympics of the art world, has opened to artists—months later than usual, and with new criteria written in language that looks like the now-familiar work of the current administration. With less time, the sudden passing of Koyo Kouoh, the curator of the 2026 Biennale, and a new definition of who the representative artist should be, will contenders be able to prepare an exhibit for the US pavilion? And, who should that artist be? Being chosen to represent the US is an unparalleled career-advancing opportunity. The 130-year-old Venice Biennale, which takes place every two years, pits participating countries' national pavilions against one another to win the prestigious Golden Lion award. Since it began in 1895, the US has taken part in every Biennale except for a few surrounding World War II. But the cost, even at the best of times, is high. When artist Jeffrey Gibson was chosen to represent the US at the 2024 Biennale, he and his team had to raise $5 million. While winning artists are granted $375,000 by the US State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), $125,000 goes to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in order 'to provide the staffing, maintenance, and operations of the U.S. Pavilion during exhibit installation, display, and removal (approximately 7 months),' according to this year's application documents. This means most of that $5 million had to be raised (the amount ranges year to year). Typically, funds are sourced from private donors and institutions. In total, it's a long and complicated process: Usually, an application is made by a trinity of artist, museum, and curator. The window to apply is months long; the ECA creates a Federal Advisory Committee in accord with the US Department of State to review applications, and a couple months later, a winner is announced. Which is why it caused alarm when Nate Freeman reported for Vanity Fair that the portal for the 2026 Biennale didn't go live until Wednesday, April 30th, condensing the more typical 18-month window down to a tight 12 months. (The reason for the delay is not clear, and the State Department has not responded to a request for comment.) Will a hopeful still be able to apply and pull together an exhibit in time for the 2026 Biennale? Most of the curators and gallerists we spoke with said yes, without a doubt. The timeline is not ideal, but anyone intending to apply is likely prepared. Long before the portal opened, institutions, artists and curators were no-doubt making moves to position themselves to win. The question then becomes, who wants to represent American art on an international stage, right as arts funding is cut or redirected by the current administration. Earlier this month, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) pulled grants from hundreds of arts groups, according to NPR, after President Trump proposed cutting the NEA entirely. More recently, employees including senior leaders left the NEA en masse after being given the option to leave or retire early, through the Deferred Resignation Program, according to The Washington Post. Meanwhile, the assistant secretary role at the ECA role is vacant, and acting leadership is Darren Beattie, President Trump's former speechwriter. According to Freeman's reporting, this year's Annual Program Statement by the ECA looks different than past years'. Of the notable changes is an assertion that the program's intent is to advance an 'international understanding of American values by exposing foreign audiences to innovative and compelling works of art that reflect U.S. foreign policy and foster international dialogue on shared global challenges.' Also, a 'site visit, at least once during the lifetime of an award, may be conducted by Department of State personnel. The site visit is conducted to gather additional information on the recipient's ability to properly implement the project.' 'Within these conditions, should one go ahead and propose an artist?' says Cecilia Alemani, director and chief curator of High Line Art. 'The intervention of the government with the content of the artist's presentation is there where it hasn't been in the past.' On top of this is the recent and sudden death of Koyo Kouoh, just before she was supposed to announce the theme and title for the 2026 Biennale. Beyond the loss of an important figure in the art world—who would have also been the first African woman to curate the Venice Biennale—the implications of her passing for the next Biennale are unclear, and no statement has yet been made, according to the New York Times. And yet imagining a Venice Biennale without a US representative at the national pavilion seems unimaginable. So is the idea that an artist wouldn't want the chance to comment on art in America, given the platform at the Biennale. You Might Also Like From the Archive: Tour Sarah Jessica Parker's Relaxed Hamptons Retreat 75 Small (But Mighty) Kitchens to Steal Inspiration from Right This Instant
France 24
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- France 24
Groundbreaking Cameroonian curator Kouoh dies: Cape Town art museum
Born in 1967, Kouoh had headed the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA), in South Africa's capital Cape Town, since 2019. She was chosen last year to curate the next Biennale -- one of the world's most important contemporary art shows -- opening in May 2026. The Zeitz MOCAA "received news in the early hours of this morning, of the sudden passing of Koyo Kouoh, our beloved Executive Director and Chief Curator", the museum said on social media. The Venice Biennale said in a statement it was "deeply saddened and dismayed" to learn of Kouoh's "sudden and untimely passing". "Her passing leaves an immense void in the world of contemporary art," it said, adding that Kouoh had been set to present the 2026 Biennale's title and theme in Venice on May 20 this year. Born in 1967 and brought up between the Cameroon coastal city of Douala and Switzerland, Kouoh positioned the Zeitz MOCAA at the cutting edge of contemporary art by championing Pan-Africanism and promoting artists from the continent and its diaspora. "Africa is for me an idea that goes beyond borders. It's a history that goes beyond borders," she told AFP in an interview in 2023. When announcing her appointment to lead the legendary Venitian art show, Biennale president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco had hailed her as a "curator, scholar and influential public figure" who would bring the "most refined, young and disruptive intelligences" to the sprawling 130-year-old exhibition. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday expressed her "deep sorrow" for the curator's "premature" death.
The Guardian
24-02-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Australia news live: Ten agrees to pay Lisa Wilkinson $1.15m to cover Lehrmann trial legal costs; Labor to promise better mobile coverage
Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson have reached an agreement to cover her legal costs over the Bruce Lehrmann defamation trial. Ten previously agreed to pay Wilkinson the sum of $558,548.30, which is less than a third of the $1.8m in indemnity costs she sought. But yesterday, the federal court confirmed an agreement between the parties for the network to pay Wilkinson $1,150,000. It has until 19 March to pay the remaining $591,451. Share Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature The Victorian government has introduced a 'townhouse code' which it says will 'rapidly approve' new home buildings up to three storeys tall, as long as they suit the needs of residents and the surrounding community. The government said the code would turbocharge the approval of more duplexes, townhouses and low-rise apartments for workers and young people – with 'no costly delays, no VCAT limbo, and no sluggish bureaucracy'. The code sets standards for good development, which includes: Neighbourhood character rules like six metre setbacks at the front, and setbacks at the side and rear. Tree canopy and open space requirements, including protecting trees that are a certain size. A mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments in projects of a certain size, to support families. Protection for neighbours from overlooking and overshadowing. Enough sunlight, storage, room size, ventilation and private open space for residents. Buildings that are sustainable and energy efficient. A planning permit application will have to include all the evidence it meets the code. Councils will assess if it meets the code, and if met, no more assessments would be required and the project fast-tracked. If the code is not met, then a normal planning process will then apply. Residential housing in Melbourne. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP Share Senate estimates will be back underway today, and AAP has flagged a little of what we can expect: Creative Australia bosses, including the chief executive, Adrian Collette, will front an estimates hearing and it's expected they'll be questioned about the selection body's shock decision to ditch the Venice Biennale team. Lebanon-born artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino had been chosen for the 2026 Biennale, until early works of art by Sabsabi were raised in parliamentary question time on 13 February. Artist Khaled Sabsabi. Photograph: Bec Lorrimer/The Guardian Creative Australia called a snap board meeting following question time and by 9.30pm that night it had rescinded its invitation to Sabsabi and Dagostino. Immediately after question time, arts minister Tony Burke called Collette to discuss the selection, but Burke denies any political interference. Meanwhile, an estimates hearing will probe the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as former Nine Entertainment chief executive Hugh Marks prepares to commence a five-year term as ABC managing director in March. Journalist Antoinette Lattouf's departure has been a topic at previous estimates hearings, with questions about how much money the ABC was spending on legal fees. The broadcaster's response in August means it remains unlikely the question will be answered at the hearing today: To avoid prejudice to the ABC's position, or unintended interference or influence of the proceedings, questions on the costs of litigation should be deferred until the conclusion of those proceedings. Share McKenzie defends Dutton public sector cuts as McKim warns of 'Donald Trump-style campaign' Bridget McKenzie also defended Peter Dutton's move to slash public sector jobs in order to fund the Coalition's Medicare injection. She argued there had been 36,000 additional public servants in Canberra under Labor. We also think that there's been wasteful spending in excess of $100bn of initiatives over the last three years that could be better prioritised. What economists are saying is that Australians are going to have to pay more in taxes to actually pay for the spending of this government, and we believe particularly young people don't need to be on the hook for this. We need to be making sure a government lives within its means, just like your viewers. Asked if the Greens would support this, Nick McKim instead accused Dutton and the Liberals of 'engaging in a Donald Trump-style campaign.' We're really worried about a descent into far-right extremism in Australia led by Peter Dutton, in the same way that we're seeing it in the US. So we're not going to back any of that stuff … We want people who are doing it tough to get more support, we want strong climate and we want to see actually things improve for people. Share McKenzie and McKim on Labor's Medicare plan Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie and Greens senator Nick McKim both spoke with the Today Show earlier on the government's Medicare announcement last week. In case you missed it: Labor has promised 18 million extra bulk-billed GP visits a year as part of an $8.5bn investment in Medicare, which Peter Dutton then said the Coalition would match dollar-for-dollar, by cutting thousands of public servant jobs. McKenzie rejected the notion that the Coalition wouldn't have done this, if not for Labor making their announcement. There was an absolute response, because what we can't have is another Mediscare campaign by a prime minister desperate to drag the Coalition down because he's got no new ideas. McKim said the Greens were 'absolutely backing it' because 'it was our idea'. We're stoked that it's been put in place, and it just goes to show that, you know, Greens pressure works … Ultimately, we've got a lot more ideas like this. If you want a few more, how about dental into Medicare? Greens senator Nick McKim. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP Share Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson have reached an agreement to cover her legal costs over the Bruce Lehrmann defamation trial. Ten previously agreed to pay Wilkinson the sum of $558,548.30, which is less than a third of the $1.8m in indemnity costs she sought. But yesterday, the federal court confirmed an agreement between the parties for the network to pay Wilkinson $1,150,000. It has until 19 March to pay the remaining $591,451. Share Emily Wind Emily Wind here, signing on for blogging duties – thanks to Martin for kicking things off for us. I'll be with you on the blog for most of today, guiding you through our rolling updates. As always, you can read out with any tips, questions or feedback via email: Let's go. Share The boss of Australia's largest retail bank has penned a letter of reassurance to customers amid cost-of-living pressures and a slip in its shares, AAP reports. Commonwealth Bank chief Matt Comyn said in a letter that hit most patrons' email inboxes on Monday: It's been a challenging time for Australian households and businesses, and we know many customers have been looking forward to lower rates. For our variable home loan rate customers, the full interest rate reduction will hopefully provide some relief. CBA shares fell more than 8% last week – a fall mirrored by other major Australian banks – but recovered on Monday, rising 2.97%. Comyn declared in his letter that physical cash was 'here to stay', even if customers' banking preferences may evolve: We'll continue to distribute more than $4bn in cash each month through Australia's largest branch and ATM network, which will also benefit from $100m in upgrades in 2025. We have extended our promise to keep all our regional CommBank branches open until at least 31 July 2027 to support communities and jobs in regional Australia. Share Cait Kelly Greens vow to overhaul job services and abolish mutual obligations This morning the Greens will launch their policy to overhaul job services by eliminating for-profit providers from the employment services system, restoring the Commonwealth Employment Services, abolishing mutual obligations and hiring more staff to bring call wait times to Centrelink to under five minutes. Based on PBO analysis, the party said its plan would cost approximately $3.6bn over four years. It said the CES would create thousands of public service jobs and would be universally accessible for everyone, including those who are already employed. Greens spokesperson on social services Penny Allan-Payne said: The privatised employment service system is costly, ineffective and cruel. It makes it harder for people to look for and find work, while enriching for-profit providers, many of whom have demonstrated a callous indifference to the well-being of the people they're meant to help. Mutual obligations are not only cruel, they're completely dysfunctional. Multiple ongoing technology issues have rendered the system almost inoperable, while information that's recently come to light raises serious questions about the legality of the whole scheme. We'd be better off doing away with the system altogether, rather than continuing to throw good money after bad on something that is costly to administer and completely counterproductive. Share Josh Butler The Labor government has pledged $17.1m to provide more accessible beaches, parks and tourist locations for people with a disability. Social services minister Amanda Rishworth is launching the 'Accessible Australia' initiative today in Cairns. It aims to provide federal funding for infrastructure such as more accessible change room and toilet facilities, all-terrain or beach wheelchairs, and 'inclusive' play spaces for people with special needs. Minister for social services Amanda Rishworth. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP An existing program, Changing Places, will be expanded to help people access parks and beaches, including funding for accessible pathways better suited to wheelchairs, 'mobi-matting' suitable for people with wheelchairs or reduced mobility, and playgrounds with facilities like sensory play platforms. Rishworth's office suggests the initiative could help attract more visitors to Australia, with the program to be promoted through Austrade. The minister said: Through Accessible Australia, we are significantly broadening the types of accessible infrastructure and amenities that will be built across Australia, providing access – for the first time for many – to national parks, beaches and play spaces. The Australian government will also provide funding to state and territory governments to help with the design, development and delivery of Accessible Australia projects. People with disability have the same rights to be included in our communities, to access the spaces we gather in, and to experience our beautiful natural environment. Share Josh Butler The Labor government is promising a 'universal outdoor mobile obligation' if it wins the coming election, pledging what it calls a 'world first reform' for universal call and SMS service across virtually all of Australia. Communications minister Michelle Rowland will launch the policy today. Her office says it will lead to up to 5m sq km of new outdoor mobile coverage across Australia, including more than 37,000km on regional roads. The new universal outdoor mobile obligation will require mobile carriers to provide access to mobile voice and SMS almost everywhere across Australia. Rowland said: Whether it's in national parks, hiking trails or out on the farm, outdoor coverage will be accessible almost anywhere where Australians can see the sky. The plan would expand triple-zero access, boost voice and SMS coverage in mobile black spots, and improve mobile signals during disasters and power outages. The government says it would seek to introduce legislation this year, with implementation by late 2027, to 'expand the universal service framework to incorporate mobile coverage for the first time'. Rowland: The government will work with stakeholders and industry to get the legislation right, including flexibility where warranted by supply, spectrum and other factors. The Albanese government will also engage with industry and examine incentives and removal of barriers to support public interest objectives and competition outcomes. Share Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I'm Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it'll be Emily Wind with the main action. Anthony Albanese says he is confident that the US would defend Australia if it were to come under attack, despite Donald Trump rewriting European security since coming to power. But the prime minister added that Australia needed to look after its own security and would make its own decisions on foreign policy, including on support for Ukraine. The comments came on a special edition of the ABC's Q+A last night, in which he took questions from members of the public on foreign affairs, the cost-of-living crisis, housing and social cohesion. Reaction coming up. On the subject of the economy, the Commonwealth Bank boss Matt Comyn has written to his customers to reassure them amid cost-of-living pressures. He says high borrowing rates have proved a 'challenging time for Australian households and businesses' and 'we know many customers have been looking forward to lower rates'. More coming up. The Labor government is promising a 'universal outdoor mobile obligation' if it wins the coming election, pledging what it calls a 'world first reform' for universal call and SMS service across virtually all of Australia. More coming up as Michelle Rowland, the communications minister, launches the plan today. And Labor is also promising $17.1m to provide more accessible beaches, parks and tourist locations for people with a disability. More on that in a tick. Share
