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The Latest Breaking News from Khaled Sabsabi

‘A moral crisis’: how the Sydney writers’ festival grappled with the Israel-Gaza war

The tragedy in Gaza has loomed over the festival, with chair Robert Watkins promising ‘a plurality of voices’

The Guardian - AU

A First Nations writer’s fellowship was withdrawn by Queensland’s government. What’s going on?

This week, Martu writer Karen Wyld had her A$15,000 blackwrite fellowship withdrawn – just hours before the (cancelled) ceremony at State Library of Queensland, where she was to receive it for a fiction manuscript on the Stolen Generations. The Queensland arts minister, John-Paul Langbroek, and premier David Crisafulli had directly…

The Conversation

Creative Australia chair to retire following Khaled Sabsabi biennale controversy

Robert Morgan is expected to be replaced by the First Nations playwright and creative director Wesley Enoch

The Guardian - AU

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Khaled Sabsabi says ‘common sense has prevailed’ after Monash University allows exhibition to go ahead

Flat Earth: Stolon Press, which was called off after Sabsabi was dumped as Australia’s representative at the Venice Biennale, will now open on 29 May

The Guardian - AU

‘A lot of pride and joy’: the First Nations team representing Australia at the Venice Biennale of Architecture

These seven architects hope to show First Nations design and connection to Country at the world’s most prestigious architecture exhibition

The Guardian - AU

Coalition to cut 10% of Creative Australia funding to divert to Melbourne Jewish Arts Quarter

Costings announcement follows the high-profile withdrawal of artist Khaled Sabsabi’s appointment as Australia’s Venice Biennale representative

The Guardian - AU

Muslim Australians are crying out to be heard. Will the major parties listen to us?

Groups such as Muslim Votes Matter and The Muslim Vote are hoping to gain support from those who feel left out of the major parties and disenchanted by the status quo

The Guardian - AU

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Embattled Creative Australia boss served angry letters from staff and 600 literary figures amid Sabsabi fallout

Letters from staff expressed ‘complete lack of confidence in your ability to lead this organisation effectively’ and fears over participating in external inquiry

The Guardian - AU

Restore Venice artist's name or be sued, says gallerist

Artist Khaled Sabsabi has suffered personally and professionally since Creative Australia rescinded his commission for the Venice Biennale, his gallerist says.

AAP

Morning Mail: Sabsabi’s Biennale ‘torture’, election candidates on Rednote, Trump tariff countdown

In an exclusive interview, Khaled Sabsabi blames Creative Australia for ‘dismantling’ his career; concern over Chinese language influencers on social media

The Guardian - AU

Ditched art duo drum up cash for Venice project

After Creative Australia rescinded their Biennale commission, Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino are fundraising for an independent artwork in Venice instead.

AAP

Khaled Sabsabi show cancelled one month after sacking from Venice Biennale

Monash University has ‘indefinitely postponed’ upcoming exhibition at Monash University Museum of Art in Melbourne, after ‘consultation with our communities’

The Guardian - AU

Mass letter urges arts minister to act over Venice snub

Protests against the dumping of Australia's art team for the Venice Biennale continue, with hundreds of artists and curators demanding government action.

AAP

Who gets to be political in Australian art?

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”.

The Conversation

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The Conversation

Creative Australia’s decisions should be peer reviewed and at arm’s length. Where did things go wrong?

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.

AAP

Venice team reversal was racist, art awards judge says

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

The Guardian - AU

Creative Australia boss forced to refute rumour he had resigned as fallout over Khaled Sabsabi dumping continues

Adrian Collette sends all-staff email denying that he and the chair of Creative Australia’s board had quit amid calls for resignations

AAP

Greens call for scalps over dumping of biennale artists

The boss of Australia's arts funding body should be sacked after revoking an artist pair from a prestigious biennale, the Greens claim in an election manifesto.

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The Conversation

Writers and artists are often politically outspoken – but when should we view an opinion or artwork as genuinely harmful?

Within public debate around free speech and its limits there has long been a view that artistic expression deserves especially rigorous protection. This is because it is a medium of indirect communication, open to multiple interpretations. There is a long tradition of art being used to critique society and politics.

AAP

Venice Biennale team wants apology as supporters rally

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

The Guardian - AU

Khaled Sabsabi pledges to show Venice Biennale work despite Creative Australia decision to drop him

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

Pedestrian.tv

Creative Australia Breaks Silence About Venice Biennale Scandal In Tense Senate Hearing

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.

AAP

Call for resignation of arts chief after fiery hearing

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has called for Creative Australia's chief executive to resign, over the decision to ditch the Venice Biennale team.

The Guardian - AU

Venice Biennale pavilion could be empty, Creative Australia chief tells senators

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

The Guardian - AU

From Creative Australia to Sydney writers’ festival, the direct threat facing the arts is coming from within

In this adapted extract from What’s the Big Idea? Louise Adler looks at the failure of Australian cultural leaders shying from risk and artistic vision – and letting the tail wag the dog

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