Artists demand Creative Australia clean-out after Venice Biennale fiasco

Venice Biennale alumni and Jewish artists alike have called for Creative Australia CEO Adrian Collette to resign after his about-face reinstatement of artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino to the Australian pavilion.

Khaled Sabsabi will represent Australia at the 2026 Venice Biennale after an about-face decision by Creative Australia. Picture: Anna Kucera

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Venice Biennale alumni and Jewish artists alike have called for Creative Australia chief executive Adrian Collette to resign after his about-face reinstatement of artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino to the Australian pavilion.

Former Venice Biennale artist Fiona Hall and Jewish sculptor Nina Sanadze – despite dissenting views on Sabsabi’s artistic catalogue – each said Creative Australia was unfit to represent contemporary artists and called for soul-searching at the nation’s artistic adviser.

Mr Collette has retained his position at Creative Australia since Sabsabi and Dagostino’s disendorsement over historic artworks that seemingly promoted terrorism in February. Former board chair Robert Morgan resigned in May and was replaced by playwright Wesley Enoch.

“I feel a certain amount of sympathy for what I imagine Wesley Enoch has gone through, but I certainly think that the CEO Adrian Collette should go,” Hall told The Australian. “Probably it should be an entirely new board.

“I can only think that strings were pulled behind the scenes to make Creative Australia – with (Mr Collette) as head – very abruptly dismiss Sabsabi and Michael.

Artist Fiona Hall with her installation Wrong Way Time at the Venice Biennale in 2015. Picture: Angus Mordant

“It was trying to put out a fire that didn’t need to be put out.”

The renowned photographer, sculptor and mixed media artist pushed for reform and a rebranding at Creative Australia “to move away from this stigma that they now reside under”.

Sabsabi first drew controversy for two works: one depicting now-deceased Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah emanating “divine ­illumination” and the other a video featuring images of the 9/11 attacks titled Thank You Very Much.

“Obviously (Sabsabi) was a young man (when he made the two artworks) and was really conflicted,” Hall said. “That’s what you do as an artist. You respond, and you’re still finding your voice when you’re young.”

The 2022 Australian Venice Biennale representative Marco Fusinato said: “the most important thing is that artists get to do what they want to do without compromise and censorship. Lobby groups, politicians and art bureaucracy should not get in the way of that”.

Enoch on Thursday apologised publicly to the artist and curator for the “hurt and pain” they experienced.

“To Khaled and Michael – I’ve done it in person but to say it here very publicly – I want to apologise to them for the hurt and pain they’ve gone through in this process,” he told ABC RN.

“Though we will be stronger as a sector because of it, I know it’s come at a personal cost.

“This work is not about terrorism … It is not about glorification of terrorism in that way.”

Sanadze called for Creative Australia to address anti-Semitism in the arts after she was doxxed and vilified for her participation in a group chat of Jewish creatives in February last year.

“On one hand, it’s not surprising that through much pushing, shoving and advocating (Sabsabi) has been reinstated. On the other hand, reading the report itself, it says the opposite of the decision that has brought us his reinstatement,” the Soviet Union-born contemporary artist said.

“If you actually read it, it shows how incompetent the decision making was, how it didn’t take into consideration the sensitivities, the risk assessment, and the responsibility to the community. There were countless issues.

Nina Sanadze at home surrounded by her sculptures and drawings. Picture: Lillie Thompson

“(Mr Collette) has not stood up for Jewish creatives, not one person. There is no tenable position for him … There is no tenable position for any of them until they stand up and speak up against anti-Semitism, until they see what’s happening to the Jewish creatives.”

Arts Minister Tony Burke threw his “full support” ­behind Creative Australia’s decision on Wednesday, but the Coalition remained critical of Sabsabi’s track record.

Legal affairs spokesman Julian Leeser said the decision “flies in the face” of Australian values.

“When an artist has a history of presenting terrorist leaders like Hassan Nasrallah, when they have a history of presenting a work that had the United States president saying thank you for 9-11, I think particularly at this time this is the wrong person to be representing our country,” he told ABC RN.

National Association of the Visual Arts executive director Penelope Benton had long advocated for Sabsabi’s reinstatement but sought to rally artists back behind Creative Australia and its executive following the review by boutique consultancy firm Blackhall & Pearl.

“I think the review offers lessons for improving how we support ambitious work without compromising accountability,” Ms Benton said.

“It was a terrible decision and one that has really shaken the sector for a long time, but I want to acknowledge that correcting a mistake in a high profile national project like this takes courage and leadership.

“There’s no doubt it’s going to take a lot of work to rebuild the trust in the institution, and then the systems that it puts in place. I think that in this decision and in the sharing of the review we’ve seen a willingness to take responsibility, and I think that’s the kind of leadership that our sector needs.”

Sabsabi’s social media pages were replete with wellwishers, including former Sydney lord mayor Lucy Turnbull, Federal Court victor Antoinette Lattouf and author Benjamin Law.

Pianist Jayson Gillham — currently embroiled in legal action against the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for its crackdown on his pro-Palestinian rhetoric — said it was “excellent news”.

“Next stop: accountability for those who led the cancellation,” he wrote on X.

Sabsabi and Dagostino on Wednesday said the review and reinstatement had “renewed our confidence in Creative Australia and in the integrity of its selection process”.

The duo’s Venice appointment was withdrawn after former ­opposition arts spokesperson Claire Chandler asked in parliament why a person “who highlights a terrorist leader in his artwork” was representing Australia “on the international stage?’’