Venice Biennale pavilion could be empty, Creative Australia chief tells senators
Creative Australia has conceded the Australian Pavilion at next year's Venice Biennale may remain empty following its decision to rescind the contracts of the artist and curator it chose to represent the country at the prestigious event.
'We will be doing everything we can…to think about how we use what is a public pavilion to mount something of that is worthy in terms of its representation of Australia,' Creative Australia's chief executive, Adrian Collette, told a Senate estimates hearing on Tuesday night.
'But we have to draw breath and work out how we are going to approach this singular situation.'
However, facing the late-night inquiry in Canberra, Collette and the chair of Creative Australia's board, Robert Morgan, refused to resign.
During the questioning, they admitted that despite the board voting to withdraw artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino from Venice almost two weeks ago, it had only formally terminated their contracts hours before Tuesday's hearing.
They also acknowledged it will be the public purse that picks up the cost of the board's controversial decision that has provoked widespread condemnation within the Australian arts sector.
'We absolutely acknowledge we have financial obligations to the artist and the curator, so the taxpayer has to fund it,' Collette told the hearing.
'The taxpayer funds everything we do.'
Collette said the delay in terminating the biennale contract was due to Creative Australia needing to seek legal advice.
'Do you reckon maybe you should have got that advice before you sacked the guys?' Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young asked Collette.
'We didn't have time,' he responded.
The concentrated timeline that led to Sabsabi and Dagostino's sacking was the focus of much of Tuesday's hearing, with Collette repeatedly stressing the urgency of the matter, for the sake of 'social cohesion'.
'It is not, in my view, about artistic intent,' he said.
'It is about the impact that [a Sasabi and Dagostino representation] would have on the broader public that was the concern. And the impact of art does not reside with an artist's intent. It resides in the way it is perceived by the public.
'We cannot be blind to the very real risk that the choices we make can also have the potential to trigger divisive narratives.'
When grilled about the involvement of arts minister Tony Burke, represented by senator Tim Ayres at the hearing, Collette said a brief informing the minister of the selection of Sabsabi and Dagostino went to his office on 31 January, seven days before the selection was publicly announced.
In between that brief being sent and the public announcement, Collette was alerted by a Creative Australia staffer to the existence of a work created by the artist some 17 years earlier called You. It was a video installation that featured images of Hassan Nasrallah, the former leader of Hezbollah, a group that was only fully proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the Australian government some 14 years after the work was created.
The work You was not the tipping point however. It was another work, created a year earlier, that sealed the artist's fate. Collette admitted that neither he or the board were aware of the existence of a work called Thank You Very Much – a montage of the 9/11 attacks with President George W Bush speaking the title words in the 2006 video's conclusion – until Liberal senator Claire Chandler brought up the choice of Sabsabi for the Venice Biennale during question time on 13 February.
By mid-afternoon that day Morgan was wrangling his board for an emergency meeting. Collette insists that by the time Burke called him, at about 3.30pm, a six o'clock board meeting had already been slated.
'I was shocked when I saw that it [Thank You Very Much] was there,' Ayres said, reading a statement from Burke at the hearing. 'And I rang Adrian…to find out what had happened. At that point, he had already determined that they were going to have a board meeting that night. And I went on to say, you know, whatever you decide, I will support you, and I will support Creative Australia.'
'You went into panic mode and you pushed the button,' Hanson-Young put to Collette.
'We anticipate always that the selection of the Venice artists will be controversial, it has been for time immemorial' Collette responded.
'Everyone has a view on the artist, on the art. We don't resile from any of those decisions. We haven't in the past, but what happened at that moment was a recognition by me and the board that this entire process was going to be mired in the worst kind of divisive debate.'
Collette said he contacted Sabsabi and Dagostino to inform them of the impending meeting, and again to inform them of the meeting's outcome an hour and a half later. At no point were the pair given the opportunity to address the board themselves. When Collette tried calling Sabsabi several times later that evening to put the wording of the public statement of his withdrawn commission to him, the artist did not take his calls.
'You failed to do the due diligence, you failed to do the governance, and you failed to look after the artists,' Hanson-Young accused Collette.
Collette admitted Creative Australia had a 'huge' amount of work to do to 'to restore [the public's] confidence in our ability to make independent, expert, informed, arms length decisions' but assured her all other grant making divisions of the organisation had not been weakened by the Venice controversy.
Would he resign, she asked?
'That's not the way I work,' he said.
'I'm sorry if this decision is misunderstood by the sector, but I don't back away from this stuff...If it's in someone else's gift to say, well, we think you should move on, so be it. But it certainly won't be something I do.'
Would the chair resign then, the senator pursued?
'No,' Morgan replied.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time Out
3 hours ago
- Time Out
Revealed: The plans for a huge, $230 million world-class film studio just outside of Sydney
Earlier this month, following the most successful Sydney Film Festival to date, the NSW Government announced it would commit $380 million to support the screen industry – including $100 million for a new film studio in the state. Now, plans for a potential studio on the Central Coast – just an hour's drive from Sydney's CBD – have been revealed. The 30-hectare site for Central Coast Studios is located in the town of Calga, 62 kilometres north of Sydney in the beautiful Glenworth Valley region of the Central Coast. Here, the team plans to build a $230 million world-class screen production facility featuring 10 sound stages, a film museum, production offices, an education and training precinct, and a series of studios for on-site production. The proposed plans include sustainable, accessible design that celebrates Australia's natural beauty, along with amenities such as a helipad and Australia's largest water tank. Plus, there will be room for expansion – with the team behind the project anticipating continued growth. With Australian screen, television, and digital game production on the rise, the aim is to support a new generation – with Central Coast Studios set to create more than 2,500 jobs in the area (across construction, screen production, hospitality and education). The project was conceived in 2020, and with industry leaders involved in the team, it was already on track to come to life under a self-funded, staged delivery model. The announcement of $100 million in government backing for a new film studio in the area could accelerate the project – we'll just have to watch this space to see if Central Coast Studios is the recipient of the funding. According to the team, the concept has already received praise from local and industry stakeholders – including tertiary education providers and community bodies – for its potential to boost employment in the area, with initial models estimating the studios would inject $500 million into the economy every year. Heath Bonnefin, Co-Director of Central Coast Studios and developer, explained: 'Our vision for Central Coast Studios is to put our beautiful region on the map – globally – as a leading destination for film, television and digital game production. The proposed studios precinct will not only create hundreds of professional roles in film, television and game development here on the Coast, but will also open up a host of new opportunities across tourism, education and small business – while ensuring long-term resilience and showcasing Greater Sydney.' here.
Time Out
3 hours ago
- Time Out
World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025: Odette at the National Gallery Singapore ranks 25th globally
We got a little taste of the World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 list earlier this month, when the extended 51–100 rankings were released, and yes, local favourites made the cut. Burnt Ends, known for its modern Australian barbecue, and contemporary Singaporean restaurant Labyrinth secured spots 93 and 97 respectively. Now, the full list is out – and Odette has once again earned its place among the world's culinary elite. The elegant French restaurant, tucked within the National Gallery Singapore, comes in at number 25 this year. No stranger to the top 50, Odette has consistently appeared on the list since 2018, though it slips slightly from last year's 24th place. Helmed by chef Julien Royer, Odette is named after his grandmother, whose influence can be seen in his personal approach to French cuisine. While rooted in classic techniques, the menu carries subtle Asian flair, a nod to Chef Julien's time in the region. The restaurant's muted, light-toned interiors exude a sense of calm and quiet luxury, while the extensive wine list and impeccable service complete the dining experience. Here are the top 10 restaurants in the world in 2025: Maido (Lima) Asador Etxebaarri (Atxondo) Quintonil (Mexico City) Diverxo (Madrid) Alchemist (Copenhagen) Gaggan (Bangkok) Sézanne (Tokyo) Table by Bruno Verjus (Paris) Kjolle (Lima) Don Junio (Buenos Aires) View the full list here. Find out more about Odette here.
Metro
11 hours ago
- Metro
Kanye West's wife Bianca Censori defiant in candy bikini after 50 Cent attack
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Bianca Censori has stepped out in yet another ultra-revealing ensemble, wearing just a tiny candy bikini on an outing with husband Kanye West. Since the Australian model, 30, married the rapper, 48, in 2022, the public has become accustomed to seeing rather a lot of her, whether it be her totally sheer Grammys dress or a barely-there underwear set. Consequently, concerns have been raised for her welfare, with the internet convinced that Ye is dictating what his spouse wears, especially given that he will always be fully clothed next to her. But as speculation about the nature of her marriage to Ye rages on, Bianca turned heads once more on Saturday with plenty of skin on show. She and the Yeezy fashion designer were seen exiting a chrome Mercedes-Maybach before arriving at the Mercer Hotel in New York, later making their way to a Brooklyn studio. In just her bra and a thong, Bianca's skimpy attire was made entirely out of sweets, not holding much in. Whether or not it was real, edible candy is anyone's guess, but we can't imagine it's the kind of look you'd see an Oompa Loompa rocking in the Chocolate Factory. The brunette wore her long locks in a sleek, straight style, was clutching her phone, and added a pair of metallic silver heels. In stark contrast, walking beside her, Ye was entirely covered, wearing black trousers, a grey hoodie, and tan boots. Maintaining his usual stoic expression, he covered his eyes with shades. The appearance marks Ye and Bianca's first public outing since rap star 50 Cent made a dig at the Gold Digger hitmaker's wife. Last week, Ye unexpectedly arrived at court as Sean 'Diddy' Combs' trial continues. He faces serious federal charges of sex trafficking and racketeering, which he has denied and pleaded not guilty to. Ye's appearance is said to have been short-lived, as, according to CNN, since he was not listed as an official attendee, he was directed to an overflow courtroom. After watching the proceedings via closed-circuit video for less than an hour, he exited the building and was seen driving off. Afterwards, 50 – real name Curtis James Jackson III – made it known how he felt, with Ye's arrival being widely interpreted as a display of support for Combs. Taking to Instagram, the Candy Shop hitmaker posted an AI-generated image of himself wearing a white ensemble similar to Ye's court look. In a savage caption, he dragged both Ye and his wife, making a reference to her nearly naked Grammys frock from earlier in the year. 'We are wearing white in honor of the freak offs,' he wrote. 'Damn Ye, you should have brought your dirty little wife with that Grammys outfit! @50centaction.' The 'freak offs' comment was seemingly a jibe at the unsettling sexual assault allegations surrounding Combs, who allegedly held days-long sex parties, which also involved ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura. While famously loose-lipped on social media, Ye did not retort. He has, however, not made a secret of his friendship with Combs, having ignited rumours that the two had worked on a song together, on which he wanted daughter North West, 11, to feature, much to the fury of her mother, his ex-wife Kim Kardashian. In March, the exes' latest row went public when Ye released a track titled Lonely Roads Still Go To Sunshine, which he said was a collaboration between Diddy, North, King Combs, and Jasmine Williams. Ye posted text messages online between himself and Kim, in which the Stronger rapper accused his former partner and her family of limiting his access to the children. More Trending It's been said that Kim, who was married to Ye from 2014 to 2022 and shared four kids with him, has displayed solidarity with Bianca during the time she has been with her ex. While reports recently claimed that Bianca was hoping to end their marriage due to living in an 'aggressive situation', the couple seemed to patch things up. However, Skims founder Kim reportedly wants Bianca to know she is there for her, with a source telling Page Six that she has shown 'support' for Bianca and has let her know she's there to 'talk if she needs'. An insider claimed to the outlet that Kim 'feels like she's the only other person on this planet who truly knows what Bianca has been through'. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Johnny Depp claims he was a 'crash test dummy' for #MeToo movement MORE: What's happening with Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni lawsuit ahead of 'explosive' series? MORE: TV chef Anne Burrell's death being investigated as 'possible overdose'
