Latest news with #CreativeAustralia
AU Financial Review
23-05-2025
- Business
- AU Financial Review
Controversial Creative Australia chairman retires early
The chairman of federal arts funding body Creative Australia has retired before the expiry of his first five-year term, in a move the government says was unrelated to his role in the Venice Biennale fiasco. Robert Morgan, an advertising and marketing executive, joined Creative Australia's board as chairman in July 2021 on a term due to expire in August 2026, but has now been replaced by his deputy, former Sydney Festival director Wesley Enoch.
The Age
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Creative Australia chair retires after Venice furore
The chair of the federal arts agency, Robert Morgan, has stood down three months after the board's controversial sacking of Australia's appointed representatives to the Venice Biennale. Morgan's retirement from Creative Australia was announced by Arts Minister Tony Burke late Friday just weeks before an independent review is to publicly report on the process that led to the sacking of artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino. The leadership change has raised hopes in the arts sector that the sacking could be revoked in time for Australia to attend the Venice Biennale in 2026. Morgan and Creative Australia chief executive Adrian Collette have borne the brunt of criticism over the board's decision in February to abruptly cancel the Biennale invitation of Sabsabi and Dagostino. The move had followed questions in parliament that day about Sabsabi's historic works. The pair told Senate estimates the decision had been taken to avoid 'the worst kind of divisive debate', and 'an unacceptable risk to public support for Australia's artistic community'. It was the discovery of an 18-second 2006 video artwork, Thank You Very Much featuring images of the 9/11 attacks on the US that Collette told senators had prompted him to call an emergency meeting of the board the evening of February 13. Collette said there was a possibility the agency might be unable to find a replacement in time, leaving Australia without a presence at the event. Collette announced Morgan's departure in a note to staff.
Sydney Morning Herald
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Creative Australia chair retires after Venice furore
The chair of the federal arts agency, Robert Morgan, has stood down three months after the board's controversial sacking of Australia's appointed representatives to the Venice Biennale. Morgan's retirement from Creative Australia was announced by Arts Minister Tony Burke late Friday just weeks before an independent review is to publicly report on the process that led to the sacking of artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino. The leadership change has raised hopes in the arts sector that the sacking could be revoked in time for Australia to attend the Venice Biennale in 2026. Morgan and Creative Australia chief executive Adrian Collette have borne the brunt of criticism over the board's decision in February to abruptly cancel the Biennale invitation of Sabsabi and Dagostino. The move had followed questions in parliament that day about Sabsabi's historic works. The pair told Senate estimates the decision had been taken to avoid 'the worst kind of divisive debate', and 'an unacceptable risk to public support for Australia's artistic community'. It was the discovery of an 18-second 2006 video artwork, Thank You Very Much featuring images of the 9/11 attacks on the US that Collette told senators had prompted him to call an emergency meeting of the board the evening of February 13. Collette said there was a possibility the agency might be unable to find a replacement in time, leaving Australia without a presence at the event. Collette announced Morgan's departure in a note to staff.
The Guardian
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Creative Australia chair to retire following Khaled Sabsabi biennale controversy
The chair of Creative Australia is departing the organisation, with the arts minister, Tony Burke, announcing on Friday Robert Morgan's intention to retire. The First Nations playwright and creative director Wesley Enoch will serve as the acting chair and is expected to replace Morgan. Morgan presided over the controversial board meeting in February that voted to withdraw the 2026 Venice Biennale commission from Lebanese-Australian arts Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino. Two weeks later Morgan fronted Senate estimates with Creative Australia's chief executive, Adrian Collette, where the pair gave evidence that the board made the decision to cancel Sabsabi's commission because it feared a 'prolonged and divisive debate'. Both told the Senate hearing they would not resign, despite admitting that the Australian Pavilion could remain empty at next year's biennale as a result of the board's decision. Morgan and the board also faced public criticism from more than 600 of Australia's most recognised writers, publishers and academics in an open letter that accused them of compromising Creative Australia's integrity. The organisation is now in the midst of an independent review examining the governance processes behind the Sabsabi commission and the board's subsequent decision to withdraw it. Announcing Morgan's intention to retire on Friday, Burke said the chair had played a pivotal role in the transition of the Australia Council to Creative Australia, and implementing the Labor government's national cultural policy Revive. In a statement Morgan said his four years in the position had been a great honour. 'I have great confidence Creative Australia will continue to deliver its mandate to support Australia's rich and diverse cultural life for all Australians under Wesley's leadership,' he said. The Guardian has contacted Morgan for further comment.
Sydney Morning Herald
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘A clear sign that truth still matters': Sacked artist welcomes university decision
'This is a deeply personal moment for me,' he said. 'I'm relieved that common sense has prevailed and we can move forward with the Flat Earth curatorial vision and exhibition at MUMA. It's a clear sign that truth still matters. 'This is also about more than one artist or one show, it's about how we as an industry respond to challenges, stand by each other, and uphold the integrity of artistic expression.' Sabsabi added: 'This outcome was not achieved in isolation; it was the result of a shared determination to protect freedom of expression and support artists at a time when it matters most.' He also refuted the insinuations that arose from Creative Australia's decision to sack him. 'Let me be absolutely clear: I reject all forms of racism and hate. My practice is built on existence/coexistence, respect, and the urgent need to connect across cultural and political divides,' he said. 'This [MUMA] decision affirms that my work is understood in that spirit.' Loading He thanked and acknowledged the commitment of Stolon Press, the participating artists in Flat Earth, and the team at MUMA. 'This moment is a reminder that our institutions are stronger when they hold space with artists and curators for complexity and conversations,' Sabsabi said. 'This is now an opportunity for Creative Australia to revisit its decision regarding Venice 2026. Michael and I remain committed to representing Australia on the world stage with integrity and purpose.' The findings of an independent review into the Venice selection process are to be released next month. Flat Earth is the inaugural exhibition by Sydney-based publisher Stolon Press, created with MUMA's Dr Rebecca Coates and Stephanie Berlangieri. It is part of MUMA's 50th anniversary celebrations and will run until July 12. Stolon Press was created by writer Tom Melick and artist Simryn Gill in 2019. The Venice decision was prompted by two of the artist's works, one featuring footage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and another featuring the former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated last year. 'Creative Australia is an advocate for freedom of artistic expression and is not an adjudicator on the interpretation of art,' the board wrote in a statement. 'However, the board believes a prolonged and divisive debate about the 2026 selection outcome poses an unacceptable risk to public support for Australia's artistic community...' That flew in the face of what the Sabsabi had proposed for Venice, he said, as well as his overarching philosophy. 'The [proposed Biennale] work is about bringing all people of faith, ethnicity, gender together to reflect and contemplate these troubled times we live in,' Sabsabi said. He and D'Agostino have mounted a crowdfunding campaign to help them get to Venice, but hope this latest move by Monash University indicates that change is possible and there is room for Creative Australia to reconsider its decision. Speaking to this masthead last month, Sabsabi said the cancellation had been a fundamental misunderstanding that two of his historical works celebrated terrorism, which he called a 'ridiculous' accusation when both critiqued war and media representations of ideology. 'Anyone who knows me or my work understands what I stand for,' he said when asked if he had ever promoted terrorism through his work. 'I do not stand for terrorism, racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, xenophobia, or any form of hate. 'I believe every race, ethnicity, faith, gender has the right to exist and co-exist. I'm an artist, not a politician, and my work for over 35 years is about finding ways to converse through complexity. That accusation is ridiculous.'
