The Algorithm Age

Creative Australia’s decision earlier this year to rescind the selection of artist Khaled Sabsabi and curator Michael Dagostino as Australia’s 2026 representatives at the Venice Biennale sent shockwaves through the arts sector. For many artists and arts workers, it reinforced concerns around participation and access for those from culturally and racially diverse backgrounds. This week’s reinstatement of the artistic team offers some comfort. However, the entire incident has reinforced that, while diversity in the arts is celebrated, inclusion at the highest level can’t be taken for granted. Some worrying stats Our 2024 survey of more than 900 visual and craft artists, and visual arts workers (who we define as workers who support the visual arts sector), revealed several concerning findings in relation to opportunity and inclusion for culturally and racially diverse creatives. The first key finding was more than 67% of artists and 78% of arts workers felt there wer...

The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) are hoping their just-announced summer exhibition will live up to the success of last summer's Yayoi Kusama , which this year became the most visited art exhibition in Australian history. Westwood | Kawakubo, which opens in December, will showcase the innovative work of two of the most celebrated names in fashion: the late British designer Vivienne Westwood (1941-2022), and Japanese designer and Comme des Garçons founder Rei Kawakubo (born 1942). "We can only try to exceed those numbers, right?" NGV's curator of fashion and textiles, Dani Whitfield, says with a laugh. "What you're hoping for with these exhibitions is that people that maybe don't know these designers come along and learn something and walk away feeling inspired." Westwood | Kawakubo features more than 140 designs by Westwood and Kawakubo, including more than 100 from the NGV's own collection, as well as works...

The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) are hoping their just-announced summer exhibition will live up to the success of last summer's Yayoi Kusama , which this year became the most visited art exhibition in Australian history. Westwood | Kawakubo, which opens in December, will showcase the innovative work of two of the most celebrated names in fashion: the late British designer Vivienne Westwood (1941-2022), and Japanese designer and Comme des Garçons founder Rei Kawakubo (born 1942). "We can only try to exceed those numbers, right?" NGV's curator of fashion and textiles, Dani Whitfield, says with a laugh. "What you're hoping for with these exhibitions is that people that maybe don't know these designers come along and learn something and walk away feeling inspired." Westwood | Kawakubo features more than 140 designs by Westwood and Kawakubo, including more than 100 from the NGV's own collection, as well as works...