Sydney Biennale severs ties with Transfield Holdings after artist boycott over detention center links

The Sydney Biennale has concluded its collaboration with Transfield Holdings following artist protests regarding the company's association with Australia’s offshore detention facilities. After 14 years, Chairman Luca Belgiorno-Nettis stepped down. His family's firm owns shares in Transfield Services, which oversees migrant detention centers. In protest, nine artists, including Agnieszka Polska and Ólafur Ólafsson, withdrew from the event. The Biennale's organizers acknowledged the artists' issues and terminated the sponsorship. Belgiorno-Nettis expressed disappointment, mentioning that international organizations questioned the board's backing of Transfield and reported staff facing verbal harassment. The board accepted his resignation while appreciating his contributions. Earlier, on February 21, the Biennale had defended its partnership, citing concerns for its survival. The Guardian covered these events.