Overview

• An independent Blackhall & Pearl review identified a series of missteps, assumptions and missed opportunities rather than a single governance breach.
• Creative Australia accepted every recommendation of the review and publicly apologized for the hurt caused by its February decision to rescind the artists’ appointment.
• Artists Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino said their confidence in Creative Australia’s selection process has been renewed and they will recommit to the 2026 Venice Biennale project.
• Major donor Simon Mordant and several resigned board members have pledged to rejoin the pavilion effort following the reinstatement of the artistic team.
• Opposition arts spokesman Julian Leeser and other political figures have criticized the backflip as conflicting with Australian values and taxpayer interests.