Creative Australia has awarded a $100,000 grant to artist Khaled Sabsabi, just months after the federal arts organization controversially removed and later reinstated him as Australia's representative for the 2026 Venice Biennale. The significant funding represents one of 16 grants distributed under Creative Australia's Visual Arts, Craft and Design Framework and will support the creation of new artwork for a solo exhibition scheduled to open in March 2027 at Adelaide's Samstag Museum of Art.
The upcoming exhibition will showcase both Sabsabi's new commissioned works and pieces from his Venice Biennale presentation. Additionally, in August, the Lebanese-Australian artist from western Sydney received another major grant from Create NSW to develop a significant new work in western Sydney. These two substantial commissions provide a positive development in what has been an extremely challenging year for the artist.
The controversy began in February when Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino were initially announced as Australia's representatives for the prestigious Venice Biennale. However, less than a week after the announcement, both were abruptly dismissed following intense criticism from The Australian newspaper and then-shadow arts minister Claire Chandler. The criticism centered on Sabsabi's previous artworks that featured imagery related to the September 11 terrorist attacks and former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Creative Australia's unprecedented decision to revoke the Venice Biennale commission, which the organization claimed was an attempt to avoid divisive public debate, triggered immediate backlash within the arts community. The controversial move prompted several resignations from within Creative Australia itself, including the departure of its head of visual arts. High-profile figures in the Australian art world publicly demanded the reinstatement of both Sabsabi and Dagostino, including former Museum of Contemporary Art director Elizabeth Ann Macgregor and artist Archie Moore, who won the Golden Lion at the 2024 Venice Biennale.
The impact on Sabsabi's career extended beyond the Venice Biennale commission. One month after Creative Australia's initial decision, Monash University announced the indefinite postponement of a group exhibition at the Monash University Museum of Art featuring Sabsabi's works, citing consultation with their communities as the reason for the delay. At the time, Sabsabi's gallerist Josh Milani told Guardian Australia that Creative Australia's decision had initiated "the dismantling of his career and livelihood."
Milani strongly defended the artist, stating that Creative Australia had "allowed the mischaracterization of him as a terrorist sympathizer to go unchecked." He emphasized that Sabsabi "is against terrorism and violence in all its forms and he is against racism in all its forms, including antisemitism." The gallerist's comments highlighted the broader concerns about how the controversy was affecting public perception of the artist's work and intentions.
Fortunately for Sabsabi, the tide began to turn as institutions reconsidered their positions. Monash University reversed its earlier decision and allowed the exhibition to proceed, with the show eventually opening in May. More significantly, in July, Creative Australia reinstated both Sabsabi and Dagostino as Venice Biennale representatives following an independent review that identified serious missteps in the organization's original decision-making process.
Creative Australia chair Wesley Enoch issued a formal apology to both the artist and curator for the hurt and pain caused by the entire affair. Enoch specifically acknowledged that Sabsabi's work had been mischaracterized during the initial controversy, representing a significant shift from the organization's earlier position. The apology marked an important step in repairing the relationship between the arts body and the affected artists.
Following their reinstatement, Sabsabi and Dagostino expressed renewed confidence in Creative Australia and the integrity of its selection process. In a joint statement, they said the decision "offers a sense of resolution and allows us to move forward with optimism and hope after a period of significant personal and collective hardship." The pair acknowledged that the challenging experience had impacted not only themselves but also their families, friends, Creative Australia staff, and the broader artistic community both domestically and internationally. They specifically credited the unwavering support of the Australian and international creative community for helping them reach this positive resolution.
