Attention: Caroline Bowditch,

We, the undersigned Deaf and Disabled creatives of Australia, write to you in your role as a Board Member of Creative Australia to express our deep concern and disappointment regarding the Creative Australia Board’s 'unanimous' decision to remove Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino from representing Australia at the Venice Biennale. This decision undermines the principle of arm’s-length decision-making and opens the door to political interference in determining who is given a platform in the arts.

Creative Australia explicitly states:

"The important principle of arms-length funding is that we make our decisions at arm’s length from government. All decisions, whether Peer Assessed or through Industry Advice, are arms-length and free of interference from the government of the day."

Yet, this principle has been broken. It is in the public interest to understand any political pressures that may have been applied to you and the Creative Australia Board, and how these may have influenced this decision.

If an artist can be removed under such circumstances, what does this mean for all creatives whose work challenges dominant narratives? Khaled Sabsabi is an esteemed career artist whose work is internationally celebrated for its profound exploration of identity, politics, and lived experience, themes that also form the foundation for Deaf and Disabled arts in Australia.

This sets a dangerous precedent—from silencing Sabsabi based on distorted interpretations of past works to silencing any creative based on their identity and the themes they explore in their practice. Today, it is an artist of Lebanese background reflecting on politically sensitive issues being targeted. Tomorrow, will it be a Deaf or Disabled artist whose work or existence challenges systemic ableism or eugenics practices?

Deaf and Disabled creatives do not live single-issue lives; like Sabsabi and Dagostino, many of us come from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and face multiple, compounding barriers and intersectionalities that limit our access to opportunities. This decision further entrenches these inequalities by signaling that only some voices and some identities are safe from political scrutiny.

As the first openly Disabled person appointed to the Board of Creative Australia, your leadership matters, right now more than ever.

Yet, the decision to remove Khaled Sabsabi contradicts everything that equity and inclusion in the arts should stand for.

We request from you:

• A public statement from you clarifying your position on this intervention.

• The release of the meeting minutes where this decision was made.

• The immediate reversal of the decision and the reinstatement of Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino.

• A commitment from Creative Australia to fully uphold its statutory duty to protect artistic freedom, free from the political pressures of the day.

• A formal apology to Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino.

Creative Australia is supposed to protect artistic freedom. This decision has sent a chilling message to creatives from marginalised communities—that our work is conditional, only safe as long as it does not challenge dominant narratives.

We refuse to accept this.

In solidarity,

Signatories

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Easy English Letter:

To Caroline Bowditch,

We are Deaf and Disabled artists from Australia. We are writing to you because we are upset that Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino were removed from representing Australia at the Venice Biennale. This goes against the idea that art decisions should not be controlled by the Government.

Creative Australia says:

At Creative Australia, we make sure that all the opportunities or money we give to artists or groups are decided by a group of creative experts who are separate from the Government and do not work at Creative Australia. This way, the Government cannot change these decisions.**

We are upset that you have broken this rule.

If an artist can lose their opportunity because of the Government and what kind of work they make or who they are, does that mean Deaf or Disabled people could lose their opportunities next?

Deaf and Disabled artists already have a lot of trouble accessing the arts fairly. Many of us also have other parts of our identity that make it even harder, such as being culturally diverse or speaking a language other than English.

The decision you have made tells us that only some people are safe from being treated unfairly because of who they are.

As the first person with a disability on the Board of Creative Australia (the group of leaders who make decisions at Creative Australia), what you do is important right now.

But your decision to remove Khaled Sabsabi goes against what fairness and inclusion in the arts should mean. We are asking you: Why do you think this is okay?

We want:

• To hear from you directly, explaining why you made this decision.

• To hear the official written notes from the meeting when this decision was made.

• The decision to be changed quickly, and for Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino to be allowed to represent Australia again.

• For Creative Australia to promise again that they will follow their own rules and protect creatives from outside perspectives including the Government.

• For Creative Australia to say sorry to Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino.

Creative Australia is meant to protect the freedom of artists. This decision sends a worrying message to artists who are from backgrounds that make it harder for them to be seen or heard that our work is only safe if everyone likes it.

We do not think this is okay.

Together as one,

Signatories

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Photo by Anna Kucera

[Image Description: Khaled Sabsabi left, and Michael Dagostino right, stand side by side on a city street. Dagostino has wavy gray hair and wears a black suit, while Sabsabi has shoulder-length dark gray hair, a beard, and a black button-up shirt. The background features brick buildings, murals, and parked cars. Both are looking into the camera with a neutral expression]