Latest news with #2026VeniceBiennale
Sky News AU
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Australian artists Khaled Sabsabi, Michael Dagostino recommissioned for Venice Biennale after shock sacking
Australian artists Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino have been recommissioned by to represent the country at the 2026 Venice Biennale, following their controversial sacking. A review of the governance of Creative Australia, Australia's arts funding body, found there had been 'a series of missteps, assumptions and missed opportunities' in the decision-making process around their dismissal. Mr Sabsabi and Mr Dagostino were selected for as the artistic team for the Australian Pavilion at the prestigious 2026 Venice Biennale, an internationally-renowned art show. But in February, the pair were controversially removed from the art show after questions were raised over previous artworks by Mr Sabsabi. Two of them - one featuring Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and another video featuring footage of 9/11 and a clip of President George W. Bush saying 'thank you very much' - were attributed as the cause of the initial cancellation. Opposition arts spokeswoman Claire Chandler brought up the artworks in parliament at the time, and hours later the creative agency had backflipped on the pair's appointment. Acting Creative Australia Board Chair Wesley Enoch said the review was 'emphatic' in finding a 'unique set of circumstances' that the agency's board had to address. 'The Board has considered and reflected deeply on all relevant issues to find a path forward,' Mr Enoch said in a statement. 'The Board is now of the view that proceeding with the Artistic Team, Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino represents the preferred outcome.' 'The Board's decision reflects its commitment to the important principle of freedom of artistic expression, supported by a strong, transparent, and accountable governance framework. 'The decision the Board took in February has weighed heavily on many people, most particularly the artistic team and for that we are sorry. 'We want to be clear that the decision was not a reflection on the artistic team and their remarkable body of work.' The two artists released a joint statement on social media accepting the reinvitation. 'We accept this invitation and welcome the opportunity to represent our country on this prestigious international stage,' the statement read. 'This decision has renewed our confidence in Creative Australia and in the integrity of its selection process. 'It offers a sense of resolution and allows us to move forward with optimism and hope after a period of significant personal and collective hardship.' Mr Sabsabi and Mr Dagostino said that they extended their 'deepest and heartfelt thanks' to their supporters. Julian Leeser, the Coalition arts spokesman, condemned the decision as in opposition to Australian values. 'Australia's representation on the world stage should reflect our values,' Mr Leeser said. 'To reinstate an artist and give them taxpayer funds, after they have glorified the leaders of listed terrorist organisations, flies in the face of these values. 'This has been a deeply flawed process from the beginning and has now led to a ridiculous outcome. It diminishes the power of Australian art as a tool of soft diplomacy. 'Tony Burke has serious questions to answer about the credibility of his agency, Creative Australia, in the wake of this saga. 'Australia's arts sector should be a powerful tool to present Australia and its values to the world. '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.' South Australian Green Senator Sarah Hanson-Young welcomed the artists' reinstatement and called for the board to be held further accountable. 'The reinstatement of artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino as Australia's artistic team for the Venice Biennale is a win for freedom of artistic expression but it highlights just how much of a farce this whole situation has been,' Ms Hanson-Young said. 'It is clear that the leadership of Creative Australia needs a clean out in order to rebuild trust within the artistic community and the Australian public.' Originally published as Sacked Aussie artists Khaled Sabsabi, Michael Dagostino reinstated for Venice Biennale
Perth Now
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Shock move after Aussie artists sacked
Australian artists Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino have been recommissioned by to represent the country at the 2026 Venice Biennale, following their controversial sacking. A review of the governance of Creative Australia, Australia's arts funding body, found there had been 'a series of missteps, assumptions and missed opportunities' in the decision-making process around their dismissal. Mr Sabsabi and Mr Dagostino were selected for as the artistic team for the Australian Pavilion at the prestigious 2026 Venice Biennale, an internationally-renowned art show. But in February, the pair were controversially removed from the art show after questions were raised over previous artworks by Mr Sabsabi. Two of them - one featuring Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and another video featuring footage of 9/11 and a clip of President George W. Bush saying 'thank you very much' - were attributed as the cause of the initial cancellation. Opposition arts spokeswoman Claire Chandler brought up the artworks in parliament at the time, and hours later the creative agency had backflipped on the pair's appointment. Khaled Sabsabi with his works at Mosman Art Gallery. Supplied Credit: The Daily Telegraph Acting Creative Australia Board Chair Wesley Enoch said the review was 'emphatic' in finding a 'unique set of circumstances' that the agency's board had to address. 'The Board has considered and reflected deeply on all relevant issues to find a path forward,' Mr Enoch said in a statement. 'The Board is now of the view that proceeding with the Artistic Team, Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino represents the preferred outcome.' 'The Board's decision reflects its commitment to the important principle of freedom of artistic expression, supported by a strong, transparent, and accountable governance framework. 'The decision the Board took in February has weighed heavily on many people, most particularly the artistic team and for that we are sorry. 'We want to be clear that the decision was not a reflection on the artistic team and their remarkable body of work.' Michael Dagostino is the director of the Campbelltown Arts Centre. Supplied Credit: Supplied The two artists released a joint statement on social media accepting the reinvitation. 'We accept this invitation and welcome the opportunity to represent our country on this prestigious international stage,' the statement read. 'This decision has renewed our confidence in Creative Australia and in the integrity of its selection process. 'It offers a sense of resolution and allows us to move forward with optimism and hope after a period of significant personal and collective hardship.' Mr Sabsabi and Mr Dagostino said that they extended their 'deepest and heartfelt thanks' to their supporters. South Australian Green Senator Sarah Hanson-Young welcomed the artists' reinstatement and called for the board to be held further accountable. 'The reinstatement of artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino as Australia's artistic team for the Venice Biennale is a win for freedom of artistic expression but it highlights just how much of a farce this whole situation has been,' Ms Hanson-Young said. 'It is clear that the leadership of Creative Australia needs a clean out in order to rebuild trust within the artistic community and the Australian public.'
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
