The chair of Creative Australia is departing the organisation, with the arts minister, Tony Burke, announcing on Friday Robert Morgan’s intention to retire.
The First Nations playwright and creative director Wesley Enoch will serve as the acting chair and is expected to replace Morgan.
Morgan presided over the controversial board meeting in February that voted to withdraw the 2026 Venice Biennale commission from Lebanese-Australian arts Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino.
Two weeks later Morgan fronted Senate estimates with Creative Australia’s chief executive, Adrian Collette, where the pair gave evidence that the board made the decision to cancel Sabsabi’s commission because it feared a “prolonged and divisive debate”.
Both told the Senate hearing they would not resign, despite admitting that the Australian Pavilion could remain empty at next year’s biennale as a result of the board’s decision.
Morgan and the board also faced public criticism from more than 600 of Australia’s most recognised writers, publishers and academics in an open letter that accused them of compromising Creative Australia’s integrity.
The organisation is now in the midst of an independent review examining the governance processes behind the Sabsabi commission and the board’s subsequent decision to withdraw it.
In a statement, Sabsabi’s representative Josh Milani described the shift in leadership as “a welcome opportunity to open a pathway towards reinstatement”.
“It would rebuild Creative Australia’s relationship with the sector to regain the trust of the artists it serves. We believe it is possible.”
Sabsabi and Dagostino stand ready to fulfil their contract to represent Australia at Venice in 2026 and would be happy to work under new leadership, Milani said.
“Furthermore, it would help Khaled Sabsabi recover from the ongoing damage being done to his reputation, health and livelihood.
“Reinstatement is the best path forward to achieve these goals.”
Announcing Morgan’s intention to retire on Friday, Burke said the chair had played a pivotal role in the transition of the Australia Council to Creative Australia, and implementing the Labor government’s national cultural policy, Revive.
Morgan said his four years in the position had been a great honour.
“I have great confidence Creative Australia will continue to deliver its mandate to support Australia’s rich and diverse cultural life for all Australians under Wesley’s leadership,” he said in a statement.
Guardian Australia contacted Morgan but he declined to comment.
