Richard Mulvaney
LAUNCESTON'S Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery could be hosting events in tandem with Hobart's Museum of Old and New Art from 2014.
QVMAG director Richard Mulvaney discussed a potential partnership with MONA representatives in Hobart last week, which he said could see MONA FOMA and Dark MOFO sideshows heading north from next year.
"We're a bit late for this year's winter Dark MOFO, but we've got our thinking caps on and we want to bring some MONA events to Launceston in 2014," Mr Mulvaney said.
"There is no doubt that events and festivals are a key to bringing in more people - something that is a bit different.
"Having said that, we need people to vote with their feet and show that the QVMAG has the necessary support."
Mr Mulvaney said that visitor numbers to both QVMAG sites had risen since the release of the 2011-12 annual report, which showed that attendances had dropped by 6.1 per cent.
He admitted though that motivating North Tasmanians to visit was an ongoing issue.
"I do think there is an element in Launceston who have grown up with the QVMAG, they know it's there, they mean to go sometime, but they don't have the impetus," he said.
He also conceded that visibility and access was a problem, particularly at the Royal Park gallery.
"The location of the gallery once made sense in the 1890s, when they made Cameron Street the Champs Elysees of Launceston," Mr Mulvaney said.
"Despite improved signage, the building is somewhat of a traffic island lost amidst a confusing road network."