We Stand with Sabsabi
What the Cancelling of an Artist Means for First Nations Freedom and Creativity - an analysis on the current, still unfolding situation.
I’m taking a break from writing a funding application to Creative Australia to write this. The irony isn’t lost on me.
The cancellation of Khaled Sabsabi’s Venice Biennale project is more than just an isolated incident - it is yet another example of state overreach in the arts, a chilling move that has implications not only for Sabsabi himself but for all artists who dare to challenge the status quo. For First Nations creatives, this decision is yet another reminder that our freedoms are conditional, our voices subject to approval by those in power.
The Power of Art and the Fear of Its Impact
Art has always been a site of resistance. It has the power to expose, to question, and to shift public consciousness. Sabsabi’s work, deeply engaged with issues of displacement, conflict, and the lived realities of marginalised communities, speaks directly to the political tensions Australia would rather ignore. His removal from the Biennale is not simply about funding or logistics; it is a calculated decision to suppress a perspective that is inconvenient to the state’s narrative.
For First Nations artists, the message is clear: you may create, but only within boundaries that maintain the state’s comfort. When our art aligns too closely with our truths - truths that unsettle, that refuse to be reconciled - we are reminded that the structures governing the arts are not neutral. They are built to uphold the same colonial systems we seek to dismantle.
A Pattern of Censorship Disguised as Bureaucracy
We Stand with Sabsabi: What the Cancelling of an Artist Means for First Nations Freedom and Creativity
I’m taking a break from writing a funding application to Creative Australia to write this. The irony isn’t lost on me.
The cancellation of Khaled Sabsabi’s Venice Biennale project is more than just an isolated incident - it is yet another example of state overreach in the arts, a chilling move that has implications not only for Sabsabi himself but for all artists who dare to challenge the status quo. For First Nations creatives, this decision is yet another reminder that our freedoms are conditional, our voices subject to approval by those in power.
The Trap of Arts Funding: No Easy Way Out
We have tried different models. We’ve looked at alternative ways to fund our projects, to move away from reliance on government arts bodies. Philanthropy, commercial investment, self-funding, crowdfunding—none of it is a viable long-term solution.
The reality is that arts businesses, like any other industry, require a full mix of revenue streams to be sustainable. The difference is that the arts industry carries deep ethical dilemmas when it comes to funding. We know we are participating in a system that holds power over us, and yet, without that participation, our work struggles to exist at all. There is no easy way to divest from state funding, no clear alternative that allows us to create without compromise.
We are forced to balance survival with resistance, to take money from institutions that have historically worked against us while using that money to tell stories they would rather silence. It is a deeply flawed system, and yet, for now, it is the one we are trapped within.
Held Hostage by the System
As First Nations artists, we are held hostage by this system. We still have to apply for funding for our projects. We still have to ask Creative Australia for the right to be paid for our own creative labour, to be assessed on the ‘worthiness’ of our work. We are still forced to dance to the tune of the colony.
This constant cycle of seeking validation from colonial structures limits our autonomy and reinforces the very power imbalances we seek to dismantle. If we step too far outside the lines, we risk being defunded, excluded, and erased. If we conform, we perpetuate a system that was never built for us. There is no freedom in this equation: only compromise.
Funding Ourselves: The Voices Rising Fund
This is why we must invest in self-determination. The Voices Rising Fund is a direct response to this systemic control over our creative futures - a First Nations-controlled funding initiative run by us, managed by us, for our benefit. It is a commitment to ensuring that Blak artists can create on our own terms, free from the constraints and expectations imposed by colonial institutions.
We need support from our communities, our allies, and those who believe in the necessity of independent Blak storytelling. By donating to the Voices Rising Fund, you are directly contributing to the future of First Nations artistic expression - one that is not held hostage by state funding bodies, but liberated by our collective strength.
Join us in making this a reality. Support the fund. Support Blak art. And stand with those who refuse to be silenced.
A Line in the Sand
The state has overstepped. Again. The cancellation of an artist from an international platform like the Venice Biennale sends a message: Australia is not as committed to free artistic expression as it claims to be. And for First Nations creatives, it is yet another example of why we cannot rely on these structures to uphold our work.
We must continue to create. We must continue to resist. And we must continue to stand with those, like Sabsabi, who refuse to be silenced.
Australia wants art without resistance, without confrontation, without accountability. It will not get that from us.
Pitch to STAUNCH! 🚨
We’re on the lookout for bold, thought-provoking essays that challenge the status quo, spark meaningful conversations, and explore the complexities of Blak identity, sovereignty, and revolution.
STAUNCH. is a platform for First Nations writers and thinkers to share their ideas, push boundaries, and inspire action. We don’t shy away from the hard stuff—this is a space to stoke the fires of change.
What We’re Looking For:
🔍 Essays with clear arguments or big questions.
💥 Writing that is unapologetic, insightful, and deeply personal or rooted in community.
🌏 Topics exploring governance, culture, sovereignty, decolonisation, or the future of Blak self-determination.
📝 Pieces that provoke thought, inspire action, or challenge existing narratives.
What to Include in Your Pitch:
📄 A brief summary of your essay idea (2-3 sentences).
💡 Why this topic matters and how it aligns with STAUNCH.
🌟 A little about you—your background, voice, or anything you want us to know.
Send your pitches to travis@awesomeblack.org with “STAUNCH Pitch” as the subject line.
Let’s keep the fire burning with bold ideas and powerful writing. This is your chance to make your voice heard.