The fallout from this year’s Adelaide Writers’ Week debacle has reignited fierce debate about political interference in the arts and about who gets to speak in Australia’s cultural spaces.

After the invitation to Palestinian-Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah was withdrawn, 180 writers pulled out in protest. 

The festival was eventually cancelled and Adelaide Festival has since apologised for excluding the author from Writers’ Week, admitting it had failed to uphold artistic freedom. The whole saga raises urgent questions about how decisions are being made – by governments, by boards, and by those in charge of our institutions. 

Today, we’re bringing you a story from last year that exposed one of the initial fault lines in cultural administration.

It’s about artist Khaled Sabsabi, who was dropped from representing Australia at the Venice Biennale after political pressure. Then, as the backlash intensified, Sabsabi was reinstated. 

It’s an episode that feels more relevant than ever.  It features chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Barlow, speaking with Ruby Jones.

This episode originally aired in February last year.

 

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

 

Socials:Stay in touch with us on Instagram

Guest: Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Barlow

Photo: Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino in Granville. Photo: Anna Kucera

The fallout from this year&rsquo;s Adelaide Writers&rsquo; Week debacle has reignited fierce debate about political interference in the arts and about who gets to speak in Australia&rsquo;s cultural spaces.
After the invitation to Palestinian-Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah was withdrawn, 180 writers pulled out in protest.&nbsp;
The festival was eventually cancelled and Adelaide Festival has since apologised for excluding the author from Writers&rsquo; Week, admitting it had failed to uphold artistic freedom. The whole saga raises urgent questions about how decisions are being made &ndash; by governments, by boards, and by those in charge of our institutions.&nbsp;
Today, we&rsquo;re bringing you a story from last year that exposed one of the initial fault lines in cultural administration.
It&rsquo;s about artist Khaled Sabsabi, who was dropped from representing Australia at the Venice Biennale after political pressure. Then, as the backlash intensified, Sabsabi was reinstated.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s an episode that feels more relevant than ever.&nbsp; It features chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Barlow, speaking with Ruby Jones.
This episode originally aired in February last year.
&nbsp;
If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at <a href="http://7ampodcast.com.au/support">7ampodcast.com.au/support</a>.
&nbsp;
Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>
Guest: Chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper Karen Barlow
Photo:&nbsp;Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino in Granville. Photo: Anna Kucera

An independent daily news show. We feature the country’s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

An independent daily news show. We feature the country&rsquo;s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

A daily news show from the publisher of The Monthly and The Saturday Paper.

A daily news show from the publisher of The Monthly and The Saturday Paper. Hear from the country’s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

Revisiting Creative Australia’s decision to drop Khaled Sabsabi

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