And now the culture wars have failed, can the government grow some gonads and reinstate Khaled Sabsabi?
May 4, 2025 at 3:20 AM
And now the culture wars have failed, can the government grow some gonads and reinstate Khaled Sabsabi?
Beautiful composite image on a Crikey story today, and they're all our clients! Khaled Sabsabi, Jayson Gillham, Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah. Great Australians.
January 16, 2026 at 2:06 AM
Beautiful composite image on a Crikey story today, and they're all our clients! Khaled Sabsabi, Jayson Gillham, Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah. Great Australians.
The timeline for Creative Australia's reputation-ending dumping of Khaled Sabsabi:-
February 15, 2025 at 1:07 AM
The timeline for Creative Australia's reputation-ending dumping of Khaled Sabsabi:-
Creative Australia ditching Khaled Sabsabi as our representative at the Venice Biennale is an extraordinary denial of artistic freedom by our supposedly leading & independent arts advocate.
A week ago Sabsabi said he thought the honour "wouldn’t happen because of who I am.” Turns out he was right.
A week ago Sabsabi said he thought the honour "wouldn’t happen because of who I am.” Turns out he was right.
February 13, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Creative Australia ditching Khaled Sabsabi as our representative at the Venice Biennale is an extraordinary denial of artistic freedom by our supposedly leading & independent arts advocate.
A week ago Sabsabi said he thought the honour "wouldn’t happen because of who I am.” Turns out he was right.
A week ago Sabsabi said he thought the honour "wouldn’t happen because of who I am.” Turns out he was right.
Khaled Sabsabi must be a better human than I am because my immediate reaction would be tell every one of them and their Aunt Mary, to well and truly get fucked
#pffft
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...
#pffft
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...
Creative Australia reverses controversial decision to dump Biennale artist
After controversially and suddenly withdrawing Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino from the 2026 Venice Biennale, Creative Australia has announced it has reversed its decision.
www.abc.net.au
July 2, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Khaled Sabsabi must be a better human than I am because my immediate reaction would be tell every one of them and their Aunt Mary, to well and truly get fucked
#pffft
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...
#pffft
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...
Solidarity with my brothers Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino
“An outrageous overreach that threatens the very foundation of independent arts funding.”
National Association for the Visual Arts comes out swinging after Khaled Sabsabi was dumped as Australia’s artist for the 2026 Venice Biennale.
National Association for the Visual Arts comes out swinging after Khaled Sabsabi was dumped as Australia’s artist for the 2026 Venice Biennale.
February 14, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Solidarity with my brothers Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino
And as if by magic Sabsabi is reinstated… can we all please thank @antoinettelattouf.bsky.social without whom this would never have happened.
And now the culture wars have failed, can the government grow some gonads and reinstate Khaled Sabsabi?
July 2, 2025 at 7:27 AM
And as if by magic Sabsabi is reinstated… can we all please thank @antoinettelattouf.bsky.social without whom this would never have happened.
I’ve obtained documents and emails that reveal, for the first time, the coordinated lobbying and right-wing media campaign designed to stop Khaled Sabsabi from becoming Australia’s representative to the Venice Biennale www.lamestream.com.au/leaks-briefs...
Leaks, briefs and screenshots: The story behind Creative Australia's Sabsabi backflip
A Lamestream exclusive investigation into the dropping and reinstatement of Khaled Sabsabi as Australia's representative at the Venice Biennale by Creative Australia – revealing stunning parallels wit...
www.lamestream.com.au
July 4, 2025 at 1:52 AM
I’ve obtained documents and emails that reveal, for the first time, the coordinated lobbying and right-wing media campaign designed to stop Khaled Sabsabi from becoming Australia’s representative to the Venice Biennale www.lamestream.com.au/leaks-briefs...
Artists who represented Australia at Venice Biennale call for Khaled Sabsabi to be reinstated www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
Artists who represented Australia at Venice Biennale call for Khaled Sabsabi to be reinstated
Open letter from some of the country’s most distinguished artists ‘strongly protests’ at the removal of Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino
www.theguardian.com
February 23, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Artists who represented Australia at Venice Biennale call for Khaled Sabsabi to be reinstated www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
Khaled Sasabi speaks. Movingly and distressingly.
Creative Australia's leadership should listen. And then resign.
Until that happens, the organisation has no credibility.
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
Creative Australia's leadership should listen. And then resign.
Until that happens, the organisation has no credibility.
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
Khaled Sabsabi speaks - ABC listen
The Lebanese-born Australian artist Khaled Sabsabi joins The Art Show exclusively to talk about the profound impact of the decision to unceremoniously dump him as Australia's representative artist to ...
www.abc.net.au
April 5, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Khaled Sasabi speaks. Movingly and distressingly.
Creative Australia's leadership should listen. And then resign.
Until that happens, the organisation has no credibility.
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
Creative Australia's leadership should listen. And then resign.
Until that happens, the organisation has no credibility.
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
Khaled Sabsabi reinstated as Australia’s Venice Biennale representative. Good result driven by plenty of activism.
July 2, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Khaled Sabsabi reinstated as Australia’s Venice Biennale representative. Good result driven by plenty of activism.
1/2 Grace Tame
Mary Kostakidis
Antoinette Lattouf
Omar Sakr
Fatima Payman
Peter Slezak
Randa Abdel-Fattah
Louise Adler
Khaled Sabsabi
Cathy Wilcox
Antony Loewenstein
Jayson Gillham
John Lyons
Sarah Schwartz
Nick Reimer
John Keane
Karen Wyld
...and so many other brave, talented, ethical Australians
Mary Kostakidis
Antoinette Lattouf
Omar Sakr
Fatima Payman
Peter Slezak
Randa Abdel-Fattah
Louise Adler
Khaled Sabsabi
Cathy Wilcox
Antony Loewenstein
Jayson Gillham
John Lyons
Sarah Schwartz
Nick Reimer
John Keane
Karen Wyld
...and so many other brave, talented, ethical Australians
It’s unAustralian to back the genocide-supporting Israeli embassy over Australian of the Year Grace Tame, who turned her abuse into action—empowering women, changing laws & founding a group for child sexual abuse survivors. I stand with her. #auspol
March 18, 2026 at 12:43 AM
1/2 Grace Tame
Mary Kostakidis
Antoinette Lattouf
Omar Sakr
Fatima Payman
Peter Slezak
Randa Abdel-Fattah
Louise Adler
Khaled Sabsabi
Cathy Wilcox
Antony Loewenstein
Jayson Gillham
John Lyons
Sarah Schwartz
Nick Reimer
John Keane
Karen Wyld
...and so many other brave, talented, ethical Australians
Mary Kostakidis
Antoinette Lattouf
Omar Sakr
Fatima Payman
Peter Slezak
Randa Abdel-Fattah
Louise Adler
Khaled Sabsabi
Cathy Wilcox
Antony Loewenstein
Jayson Gillham
John Lyons
Sarah Schwartz
Nick Reimer
John Keane
Karen Wyld
...and so many other brave, talented, ethical Australians
Someone should encourage Sabsabi to take this to the Human Rights commission. It's shaping up as obvious discrimination/racism. He doesn't have to prove it is, Monash has to prove it isn't. If anyone out there is in contact with Sabsabi, tell him to test this case as a matter of principle
March 28, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Someone should encourage Sabsabi to take this to the Human Rights commission. It's shaping up as obvious discrimination/racism. He doesn't have to prove it is, Monash has to prove it isn't. If anyone out there is in contact with Sabsabi, tell him to test this case as a matter of principle
Strong analysis from Rosemary Sorensen on the Sabsabi debacle at Creative Australia
If Creative Australia thinks it's reducing the risk of losing public support by cancelling Khaled Sabsasi, surely the question is, who is this “public” it is worrying about?
Creative Australia's shameful dumping of Khaled Sabsabi
independentaustralia.net/politics/pol...
Creative Australia's shameful dumping of Khaled Sabsabi
independentaustralia.net/politics/pol...
Creative Australia's shameful dumping of Khaled Sabsabi
If Creative Australia thinks it's reducing the risk of losing public support by cancelling Khaled Sabsasi, surely the question is, who is this “public” it is worrying about?
independentaustralia.net
February 15, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Strong analysis from Rosemary Sorensen on the Sabsabi debacle at Creative Australia
Spot on from @beneltham.bsky.social in @crikey.com.au.
Creative Australia's crisis management may have been substandard but the real issue was its staggering lack of judgement and courage, an unforgivable absence for which no-one has been held accountable.
www.crikey.com.au/2025/07/03/c...
Creative Australia's crisis management may have been substandard but the real issue was its staggering lack of judgement and courage, an unforgivable absence for which no-one has been held accountable.
www.crikey.com.au/2025/07/03/c...
Creative Australia's cowardice on Sabsabi can't be erased
Creative Australia will send Khaled Sabsabi to the Venice Biennale after all. The review into the decision reveals cowardice and incompetence.
www.crikey.com.au
July 3, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Spot on from @beneltham.bsky.social in @crikey.com.au.
Creative Australia's crisis management may have been substandard but the real issue was its staggering lack of judgement and courage, an unforgivable absence for which no-one has been held accountable.
www.crikey.com.au/2025/07/03/c...
Creative Australia's crisis management may have been substandard but the real issue was its staggering lack of judgement and courage, an unforgivable absence for which no-one has been held accountable.
www.crikey.com.au/2025/07/03/c...
Nine newspapers are reporting that Lindy Lee and Simon Mordant have resigned from Creative Australia after the decision to abandon Khaled Sabsabi www.smh.com.au/culture/art-...
Resignations follow dumping of Australian artist from Venice Biennale
All other biennale finalists have called for Creative Australia to reinstate multimedia artist Khaled Sabsabi as the nation’s chosen entrant.
www.smh.com.au
February 14, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Nine newspapers are reporting that Lindy Lee and Simon Mordant have resigned from Creative Australia after the decision to abandon Khaled Sabsabi www.smh.com.au/culture/art-...
Monash University’s postponement of exhibition featuring Khaled Sabsabi undermines artistic and academic freedom: joint media release from the National Association of Visual Arts and NTEU Monash branch visualarts.net.au/news-opinion...
Monash University’s postponement of exhibition featuring Khaled Sabsabi undermines artistic and academic freedom
NAVA leads advocacy, policy and action for an Australian contemporary arts sector that's ambitious and fair.
visualarts.net.au
March 27, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Monash University’s postponement of exhibition featuring Khaled Sabsabi undermines artistic and academic freedom: joint media release from the National Association of Visual Arts and NTEU Monash branch visualarts.net.au/news-opinion...
Not just one case, but another Israel lobby effort to silence critics of genocide.
Mary Kostakidis
Antoinette Lattouf
Randa Abdel-Fattah
Peter Lalor
Khaled Sabsabi
Dr Mo
several writers festivals
...and many more.
Without that context, @australia.theguardian.com, you've missed the story. #auspol
Mary Kostakidis
Antoinette Lattouf
Randa Abdel-Fattah
Peter Lalor
Khaled Sabsabi
Dr Mo
several writers festivals
...and many more.
Without that context, @australia.theguardian.com, you've missed the story. #auspol
September 12, 2026 at 9:03 AM
Not just one case, but another Israel lobby effort to silence critics of genocide.
Mary Kostakidis
Antoinette Lattouf
Randa Abdel-Fattah
Peter Lalor
Khaled Sabsabi
Dr Mo
several writers festivals
...and many more.
Without that context, @australia.theguardian.com, you've missed the story. #auspol
Mary Kostakidis
Antoinette Lattouf
Randa Abdel-Fattah
Peter Lalor
Khaled Sabsabi
Dr Mo
several writers festivals
...and many more.
Without that context, @australia.theguardian.com, you've missed the story. #auspol
HUGE NEWS out of Creative Austrlia. Sabsabi REINSTATED for Venice Biennale 2026. WOAH. Collette must go.
July 2, 2025 at 6:31 AM
HUGE NEWS out of Creative Austrlia. Sabsabi REINSTATED for Venice Biennale 2026. WOAH. Collette must go.
Minister Burke began his answer by saying he was not involved in the decision to endorse - or then dump - Sabsabi.
(He has since admitted to calling the CEO immediately after question time and just hours before Sabsabi was dropped)
(He has since admitted to calling the CEO immediately after question time and just hours before Sabsabi was dropped)
February 17, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Minister Burke began his answer by saying he was not involved in the decision to endorse - or then dump - Sabsabi.
(He has since admitted to calling the CEO immediately after question time and just hours before Sabsabi was dropped)
(He has since admitted to calling the CEO immediately after question time and just hours before Sabsabi was dropped)
Anyway… Minister Burke then went on to heap praise on Sabsabi, who has spent more than three decades making art that is distinctly from and of Western Sydney.
He said Sabsabi is an “extraordinary and gifted artist”.
He said Sabsabi is an “extraordinary and gifted artist”.
February 17, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Anyway… Minister Burke then went on to heap praise on Sabsabi, who has spent more than three decades making art that is distinctly from and of Western Sydney.
He said Sabsabi is an “extraordinary and gifted artist”.
He said Sabsabi is an “extraordinary and gifted artist”.
Creative Australia awards Khaled Sabsabi $100,000 grant months after dumping from Venice Biennale
Creative Australia awards Khaled Sabsabi $100,000 grant months after dumping from Venice Biennale
Funding is a silver lining in a tumultuous year for the Lebanese-Australian artist from western Sydney
Creative Australia has awarded a $100,000 grant to artist Khaled Sabsabi, months after he was controversially dumped and then reinstated by the federal arts body as Australia’s representative for the 2026 Venice Biennale.
The grant – one of 16 made under Creative Australia’s Visual Arts, Craft and Design Framework – will fund the creation of a new body of work for a solo exhibition opening in March 2027 at Adelaide’s Samstag Museum of Art, which will also include Sabsabi’s Venice Biennale work. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
October 14, 2025 at 5:04 AM
Creative Australia awards Khaled Sabsabi $100,000 grant months after dumping from Venice Biennale
I’m seeing a lot of people blame the Monash University Museum of Art for the decision to postpone an exhibition featuring Khaled Sabsabi. The Museum didn’t make this decision and the staff are devastated. The Museum was ordered to pull the show by Monash Vice-Chancellor Sharon Pickering.
March 27, 2025 at 6:33 AM
I’m seeing a lot of people blame the Monash University Museum of Art for the decision to postpone an exhibition featuring Khaled Sabsabi. The Museum didn’t make this decision and the staff are devastated. The Museum was ordered to pull the show by Monash Vice-Chancellor Sharon Pickering.
Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle.
Great to see Sabsabi reinstated - and the important thing is for every institution currently firing at will when very very gently poked by the pro-genocide lobby to examine what the hell is so deeply wrong with themselves
Great to see Sabsabi reinstated - and the important thing is for every institution currently firing at will when very very gently poked by the pro-genocide lobby to examine what the hell is so deeply wrong with themselves
Khaled Sabsabi reinstated as Venice Biennale representative after independent review into dumping
Artist says Creative Australia’s decision renews his confidence in integrity of body’s selection process
www.theguardian.com
July 2, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle.
Great to see Sabsabi reinstated - and the important thing is for every institution currently firing at will when very very gently poked by the pro-genocide lobby to examine what the hell is so deeply wrong with themselves
Great to see Sabsabi reinstated - and the important thing is for every institution currently firing at will when very very gently poked by the pro-genocide lobby to examine what the hell is so deeply wrong with themselves