The Latest Breaking News from Venice Biennale

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for artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino to represent Australia at the 2026 Venice Biennale was rescinded, the statement from Creative Australia’s board said their selection now posed “an unacceptable risk” and “could undermine our goal of bringing Australians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

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 revocation of Australia's Venice Biennale team was racist, writer and judge of the postponed Asia Pacific Arts Awards Jinghua Qian says.

The artist and curator dumped from their Venice Biennale commission have called for Creative Australia to explain and apologise, as their supporters rally.

Artist and curator Michael Dagostino break silence following Creative Australia decision to withdraw them as representatives

The agency has been fending off claims of political interference and censorship since it rescinded the selection of Western Sydney artist Khaled Sabsabi earlier this month.

Adrian Collette admits decision to drop Khaled Sabsabi risks having nothing on show but he and chair won’t quit

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’

Open letter from some of the country’s most distinguished artists ‘strongly protests’ at the removal of Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino

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

Exclusive: The western Sydney artist was dropped from representing Australia just days after being selected