NAVA condemns Creative Australia’s failure to defend artistic freedom

The National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) condemns Creative Australia’s decision to stand by its withdrawal of Khaled Sabsabi’s selection for the 2026 Venice Biennale. Last night’s Senate Estimates hearing raised further concerns about the transparency, process, and rationale behind this decision, which has caused significant distress across the Australian arts sector and concern internationally.

Creative Australia’s CEO stated that the decision was made to avoid triggering divisive narratives and threats to social cohesion. However, Creative Australia’s role is not to mediate public discourse but to support and protect artists while upholding the integrity of independent arts funding and representation. Central to this role is its constitutional obligation to “uphold and promote freedom of expression in the arts,” as explicitly outlined in Article 11(e) of its Constitution.

“The idea that an arts funding body should make decisions based on ‘social cohesion’ rather than artistic excellence is deeply concerning,” said Penelope Benton, Executive Director of NAVA. “Creative Australia’s response suggests that art’s role is to uphold the status quo, rather than comment upon power structures, interrogate difficult histories, or provoke necessary debate. This fundamentally undermines one of the most important purposes of contemporary artistic practice.”

The lack of transparency, failure to consult the artistic team, and disproportionate response to the work—without addressing its misrepresentation or considering the ramifications for the artistic communities Creative Australia is mandated to serve—raise serious concerns. By revoking Sabsabi’s selection without meaningful dialogue or consideration of the artwork’s intent, Creative Australia has undermined its own obligation to protect artistic freedom.

The absence of a clear and consistent explanation for this decision sets a concerning precedent for arts funding and representation. Despite multiple opportunities at Senate Estimates to provide a justified rationale, Creative Australia avoided accountability, made a rushed decision without fully considering the context of the artworks, failed to allow the selected artist to speak to that context before a decision was made, and failed to uphold its responsibility to protect artists from external pressures.

“This decision sends a troubling message to artists, curators, and institutions—that peer-reviewed processes can be overturned in response to political or media pressure,” Benton said. “It sets a dangerous precedent that must be addressed.”

NAVA urges Creative Australia to:

• Issue a public apology to Khaled Sabsabi, Michael Dagostino, and those directly affected by this decision, as well as the broader arts sector;
• Provide a transparent and detailed account of the decision-making process;
• Ensure future selection processes remain independent and protected from external pressures;
• Reaffirm its commitment to supporting artists and respecting the expertise of peer advisors and selection panels;
• Take responsibility for accurately representing and defending the artists and artworks it supports;
• Ensure visual artists and experts are included in any review of this process to uphold industry knowledge and sector representation.

“We need to restore trust in how decisions about our national artistic representation are made,” said Benton. “The arts must be free from political and media interference, and Creative Australia must reaffirm its commitment to independent, peer-led processes.”

In response to this decision, the Australian arts community is coming together to support an independent presentation of Sabsabi’s work at the Venice Biennale. NAVA encourages those who value artistic freedom to contribute to the fundraising efforts to ensure Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino can present their work, despite Creative Australia’s withdrawal of support. 

NAVA continues to advocate for robust protections for artists, curators, and selection panels to ensure that future decisions are made with integrity, transparency, and independence.

Media Enquiries
Leya Reid
media@visualarts.net.au

About NAVA
The National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) is a Membership organisation that brings together the many voices of the contemporary arts sector to improve fundamental conditions of work and practice. We do this through advocacy, education and the Code of Practice. For further information on NAVA visit www.visualarts.net.au