After months of public outcry surrounding Creative Australia’s decision to drop Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino from the Australia Pavilion team, the government arts council has recommissioned the artist-curator duo to represent the country at the 2026 Venice Biennale. 

In mid-February, Creative Australia abruptly rescinded Sabsabi appointment, following a scathing article in The Australian newspaper about the Lebanese-born artist’s early work depicting a Hezbollah leader. Dagostino, a longtime collaborator and supporter of Sabsabi’s, was also axed as the project’s curator. 

The pair’s expulsion was met with vociferous objections from the Australian arts community. Philanthropist Simon Mordant resigned as a biennale ambassador and retracted his financial pledge to support the country’s participation, while several Creative Australia staff members stepped down from senior positions—from visual arts head Mikala Tai and program manager Tahmina Maskinyar to acclaimed artist Lindy Lee, who left the Creative Australia board in protest. Even though thousands of international artists, academics, and cultural workers signed an open letter in February, appealing for Sabsabi and Dagostino’s reinstatement, Creative Australia initially doubled down on its decision.

On July 2, however, following an independent, third-party review into Creative Australia’s selection procedure, the duo was reinstated. According to the review, which was conducted by the advisory firm Blackhall & Pearl, there was “no single or predominant failure of process, governance or decision-making that resulted, ultimately, in the decision to rescind the selection of [the artistic team].” Instead, “a series of missteps, assumptions, and missed opportunities” contributed to Creative Australia’s dismissal of Sabsabi and Dagostino. Notably, the review identified “unresolved tensions within Creative Australia between upholding a key statutory function of promoting freedom of expression in the arts, and broader responsibilities and accountabilities.”

Creative Australia accepted the recommendations of the external review, with interim chair Wesley Enoch stating: “A complex series of events created a unique set of circumstances which the board had to address. The board has considered and reflected deeply on all relevant issues to find a path forward [and] is now of the view that proceeding with the artistic team, Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino, represents the preferred outcome.”

In a joint statement, the pair rejoiced at their reinstallation: “We accept this invitation and welcome the opportunity to represent our country on this prestigious international stage.” They added that this move “renewed their confidence in Creative Australia and in the integrity of their selection process. It offers a sense of resolution and allows us to move forward with optimism and hope after a period of significant personal and collective hardship.” 

On July 3, Enoch apologized to the artist and curator on ABC Radio National for the “hurt and pain” caused by Creative Australia’s decision to renege on their appointment, acknowledging that Sabsabi is an “incredibly peace-loving artist” whose works had been “mischaracterized.” Creative Australia CEO Adrian Collette also offered an apology in another statement, affirming: “We are committed to rebuilding trust in our processes for the commissioning of the Venice Biennale.”

Ethan Luk is an editorial intern at ArtAsiaPacific.