Creative Australia invests $1.6 million in in ambitious new commissions for leading Australian artists

Creative Australia has announced the latest recipients of its Visual Arts, Craft and Design Framework Major Commissioning Projects, supporting 16 artists and collectives across Australia to deliver ambitious new projects.

Among the recipients is Khaled Sabsabi, who will create a major new presentation at Samstag Museum of Art. The new commission will offer Australian audiences the opportunity to experience a major new body of work from the highly acclaimed artist, following his international presentation at the Venice Biennale.

Other highlights include Dr Baden Pailthorpe who is collaborating with AFL star Adam Goodes on a major new commission exploring sport, identity and cultural history.

Shannon Lyons, presenting a mid-career survey exhibition at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts that highlights her experimental and site-responsive practice.

These commissions join a strong field of projects spanning painting, sculpture, craft, performance and multimedia installation, showcasing the breadth and vitality of Australian visual arts practice.

Head of Visual Arts at Creative Australia, Michelle Newton, said:

“This program enables Australian artists to deliver major projects of scale and ambition, while creating opportunities for national and international presentation, The artists announced today exemplify the strength, diversity and global reach of Australian visual arts.”

The 2025 Major Commissioning Projects include major new presentations at leading institutions, including:

Dr Baden Pailthorpe & Adam Goodes (National Portrait Gallery, ACT)

Jean Barth (New York, details to be announced)

Gordon Hookey (Moderna Museet, Stockholm)

Shannon Lyons (Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts)

Mel O’Callaghan (Sydney Opera House)

Sara Morawetz (Contemporary Art Tasmania)

Khaled Sabsabi (Samstag Museum of Art, SA)

Naina Sen with Naveed Farro and Harrison Hall (Adelaide Film Festival Expand Lab Moving Image Commission and Northern Centre for Contemporary Art)

The commissions also support significant new projects and collaborations from artists including:

Vernon Ah Kee and Hoda Afshar

Dr Peta Clancy

Tjunkaya Tapaya OAM

James Nguyen

Emily Parsons-Lord

Izabela Pluta, co-commissioned by The Lock-Up (Newcastle) and an international partner

Erin Dickson

Jakub Dorabialski

Delivered annually, the Major Commissioning Projects are part of the Visual Arts, Craft and Design Framework, a nationally coordinated investment partnership with states and territories to support the Australian contemporary visual art, craft and design sector.

Applications are peer assessed against published criteria of quality, viability and impact.