An exhibition at the Venice Biennale, 1962 – a year when Australia did not send an artist delegation to the event. Photo: Paolo Monti, Wikimedia Commons.
It’s interesting to think about how Creative Australia’s Board may have acted differently if they had had time to consult the history books before making their decision to rescind the invitation of next year’s chosen Venice Biennale Australian representative artist.
Perhaps if they had taken note of the similarly controversial decisions made by the Robert Menzies Government 67 years ago in selecting the artists for one of Australia’s first official delegations to the Biennale, things may have gone a different way.
ArtsHub's Arts Feature Writer Jo Pickup is based in Perth. An arts writer and manager, she has worked as a journalist and broadcaster for media such as the ABC, RTRFM and The West Australian newspaper, contributing media content and commentary on art, culture and design. She has also worked for arts organisations such as Fremantle Arts Centre, STRUT dance, and the Aboriginal Arts Centre Hub of WA, as well as being a sessional arts lecturer at The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).
