Archie Moore and curator Ellie Buttrose, who presented kith and kin at the Australia Pavilion (Venice Biennale, 2024), have called for the reinstatement of artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino to the national pavilion for the 2026 edition.
In a statement written to Creative Australia, published in full below, Moore and Buttrose also call upon the organisational body for ‘transparency on the Board of Creative Australia’s decision-making process’.
Sabsabi was dropped on 13 February following pressure from critics, including an article in the Australian, which singled out Sabsabi’s 2007 film You – featuring an address by the former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah given at a 2006 victory rally in Beirut to celebrate the end of a 34-day war with Israel. Creative Australia said: ‘The Board believes a prolonged and divisive debate about the 2026 selection outcome poses an unacceptable risk to public support for Australia’s artistic community and could undermine our goal of bringing Australians together through art and creativity.’
Moore and Buttrose’s address, however, draws attention to the political climate surrounding the decision. ‘While their statement did not clarify the board’s reasons for their dismissal, the timing coincides with politically motivated accusations questioning the artist’s integrity in the media and in Senate Question Time. It is distressing to see that the arms-length objectivity of the Australia Pavilion’s selection process is so easily undone and that the independence of Creative Australia is so quickly compromised.’
In the days since the first announcement, Mikala Tai, head of visual arts at Creative Australia, resigned over the board’s decision; philanthropist and former Venice Biennale commissioner Simon Mordant also announced his resignation from his role as an international ambassador for the 61st Venice Biennale; a number of Creative Australia staff walked out of the organisation’s Sydney office in protest; and the shortlisted artists and curators for the 2026 Australian Pavilion published an open letter stating their support for Sabsabi and Dagostino, also calling for both to be reinstated.
Moore’s Australia Pavilion – which paid tribute to the First Nations peoples who have suffered violence and injustice in the carceral system – took home the Golden Lion for the Best National Participation at the 2024 Biennale.
The 61st Venice Biennale, curated by Koyo Kouoh, opens in April 2026.
Statement in support of Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino, 2026 Artistic Team, Australia Pavilion, Venice Biennale
As the 2024 Artistic Team for the Australia Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, we were beneficiaries of Creative Australia’s unwavering support. Creative Australia always shielded us from external pressures. Our Venice Biennale experience was positive and rewarding professionally and artistically. We are exceptionally grateful to have had this opportunity made possible by the support of the Australian Government and the generosity of private philanthropy combined.
Our project, kith and kin, was selected by an esteemed independent international jury and Creative Australia, with Creative Australia reserving the final decision. The merit of this arms-length selection process was proven with kith and kin being awarded the Golden Lion for Best National Pavilion, the first time Australia has received this recognition since first attending the Venice Biennale in 1954. We understand that the same rigorous process was used in the selection of the 2026 team of artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino.
We were appalled to learn that on 13 February the Board of Creative Australia quickly and without transparent process rescinded its contract with Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino. While their statement did not clarify the board’s reasons for their dismissal, the timing coincides with politically motivated accusations questioning the artist’s integrity in the media and in Senate Question Time. It is distressing to see that the arms-length objectivity of the Australia Pavilion’s selection process is so easily undone and that the independence of Creative Australia is so quickly compromised. To regain its credibility, Creative Australia must return to its founding mandate: supporting artistic practice, advocating for freedom of expression, and promoting the understanding of the arts. The decision by the Creative Australia Board to remove the 2026 Artistic Team is a corruption of its core principles, and the longer-term and wider implications for Australian artists, art professionals and audiences are unacceptable.
We call for transparency on the Board of Creative Australia’s decision-making process and for the reinstatement of Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino as the 2026 Artistic Team for the Australia Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.
Archie Moore and Ellie Buttrose, 2024 Artistic Team, Australia Pavilion, Venice Biennale, 19 February 2025.
