In a welcome move, Creative Australia has done an about-face and reissued its invitation to artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino to represent Australia at the 2026 Venice Biennale. The announcement came in the wake of an external review, conducted by Blackhall & Pearl, into the governance, decision-making and risk management processes at Creative Australia following its controversial February 2025 decision to rescind its invitation to Sabsabi and Dagostino.

Curator Michael Dagostino and artist Khaled Sabsabi. Photo © Anna Kucera

In an open letter, Creative Australia’s CEO Adrian Collette said, “We acknowledge that there were . . . a series of missteps, assumptions and missed opportunities,” adding that the Board had accepted all the recommendations of the review. Collette also apologised for creating “concern and uncertainty for many in the broader arts community”, adding that Creative Australia is “committed to rebuilding trust in our processes for the commissioning of the Venice Biennale”.

In March 2026, China’s Shanghai Symphony Orchestra will return to Australia to perform at Arts Centre Melbourne and the Sydney Opera House under the baton of its Music Director Long Yu. Presented by Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Sydney...