Herman’s questions, posed to Council on Wednesday, focused on the exhibition’s perceived exclusion of minorities and its apparent failure to align with Council’s social cohesion, diversity, and inclusion policies.
He highlighted the exhibition text, which asks “who and what is not seen,” and questioned whether the exclusion of minorities was acceptable. He specifically noted the absence of Jewish, Buddhist, Chinese, Taoist, Confucianist, Hare Krishna, and Hindu places of worship, asking how such omissions enhance social inclusion.
Despite significant Jewish and Chinese material being readily available from the city collection, Herman said Jewish content accounted for only one of 106 images, and Chinese content was entirely absent.
He referenced the December 2025 Joint Declaration Against Antisemitism, which states, “To our Jewish community, we say: ‘We see you. We stand with you,’” and questioned why the exhibition rendered the Jewish community “invisible and unimaginable.”
He also noted that certain localities—such as Ripponlea—were entirely omitted, while Elwood was barely represented, and several significant historic campaigns were ignored.
In response, Kylie Bennett, General Manager of Community Wellbeing, said an internal review of Council processes related to this matter is underway.
In an ironically undemocratic twist, Council has told TWiSK that submissions from the public cannot be included in this review.
Mayor says dialogue is always welcome
Mayor Alex Makin defended the decision, saying the best way for the public to share their thoughts about arts programming will be through the new Creative and Prosperous City Strategy when it is drafted and published on Council’s Have Your Say page in coming months.
“Arts should encourage conversation and, by doing so, can evoke wider conversations.
“While it’s my understanding there was no ill intent in how material was selected for the exhibition, it is clear we need to have a conversation on the visibility of our communities and how their stories are reflected.
“I hope I have personally helped increase the visibility of our Jewish community, whether it’s through leading the joint statement of solidarity across Victorian local government, visiting Bondi on behalf of our community on 23 and 24 December, or by attending every Jewish event in Port Phillip and Glen Eira that has been sent to me.
“I respect the concerns raised and I trust our community to have an open dialogue about representation within the arts.
“I encourage anyone concerned to contact me directly so I can make sure these concerns are reviewed as part of our future creative direction,” he said.
Not the full picture
Submissions may not be officially welcome, but TWiSK invited some people who attended the exhibition opening to list exclusions, omissions, or oversights they found surprising.
And surprise, surprise—it’s a long list. What would you add?
- Demonstration against the Arrendale as a gated building, c.1976
- Demonstrations against various developments from at least the 1980s, including Turn the Tide campaign
- Campaign against council amalgamations, early 1990s
- Demonstrations against the Grand Prix, 1996 onwards
- Rally for improved school pedestrian crossing in Brighton rd 2004
- Demonstrations against the Triangle site, which included a march to the St Kilda Town Hall and a large gathering on the lawn for hours
- Rally for gay marriage
- Demonstration against the closure of community childcare centres on the St Kilda Town Hall lawn
- Albert Jacka’s activism and the reaction to his death
- proposed library branch closures, SMM stall holder changes and ANAM takeover of SMTH
- Rally for improved school pedestrian crossing in Brighton rd 2004?
Email your suggestions and we’ll publish them
