Review into controversial dumping of Biennale artistic duo to avoid key question

A review of the circumstances around Creative Australia’s sacking of artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino as Australia’s representatives at the 2026 Venice Biennale will examine the processes of their selection but not the merits of the decision to dump them. 

The federal arts funding body released the terms of its review into the governance and decision-making that eventually resulted in the controversial move on Friday afternoon.

Artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino were dropped as Australia’s representatives at the 2026 Venice Biennale.Credit: Steven Siewert

It will “review the governance and decision-making processes and procedures ... by which the artistic team was selected … and associated decisions” rather than the decision to withdraw the duo’s contract specifically.

The terms are unlikely to satisfy Australia’s leading artists and curators who have rallied for a thorough interrogation of the board’s snap decision on February 13 to withdraw Sabsabi and Dagostino’s contract.

The shock decision to dump Sabsabi and Dagostino was made just six days after their appointment and on the same day the Coalition asked questions in Parliament about a 2006 work made by Sabsabi featuring footage of the September 11 attacks titled Thank You Very Much.

The move prompted widespread outrage across the country’s artistic community.

A number of resignations followed the board’s decision, including Mikala Tai, its head of visual arts, and artist Lindy Lee from its board.

It has also led to claims that Australia’s pavilion at Venice in 2026 will probably remain empty; all other short-listed applicants for the event signed a letter of support for Sabsabi and Dagostino and called for their reinstatement.

Yesterday an open letter signed by hundreds of artists and curators was delivered to Arts Minister Tony Burke, also calling for the duo to be reinstated and for the immediate standing down of Creative Australia’s chief executive and chairman.

“As a sector, we have lost all confidence in the ability of [CEO] Mr Collette and [chair] Mr Morgan, to manage a crisis that they have caused, or lead Creative Australia in a way that prioritises advocating for, serving and supporting artists and freedom of artistic and cultural practice in Australia, which is the purpose of Creative Australia,” the letter read.

Blackhall and Pearl, consultants who provide governance and risk advice to boards across Australia, will conduct the Creative Australia review.

The terms of reference include a brief to “[develop] constructive, practical recommendations for the board and management to ensure robust policies, processes and systems are in place for future selection processes, [to identify] any interpretations, misunderstandings or failings in the approach taken; and [to identify] any gaps or weaknesses in the underlying governance, discovery, risk and decision-making processes that contributed to the approach taken”.

Creative Australia says the report is limited to these terms of reference. No date has been set for the review findings, and the probe will be conducted “over the coming months”.

Sabsabi and Dagostino have been contacted for comment.