The wacky, weird and wonderful Mona Foma will be back in the state’s North after the state government confirmed funding.
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More than $5 million will be given to the event organisers over the next three years to secure the event’s future in Launceston.
In 2018 the government provided $1 million to test programming elements in Launceston while the festival was still predominantly based in the state’s South.
The first Northern event in January brought $46 million to the economy.
The government said the immediate impact of having an established festival like Mona Foma in Launceston would be vast, with thousands of new visitors expected to attend the event from now until 2021.
Premier Will Hodgman said he was delighted to have secured the event in the North.
“Events like Mona Foma provide a reason for people to come here, and we know that when people come they will come back time and time again,” he said.
“Mofo had a super debut in Launceston earlier this year, capturing the imagination of locals and bringing many visitors to the North.”
Mr Hodgman said he had no doubt the festival would contain a captivating program of events.
Mofo had a super debut in Launceston earlier this year, capturing the imagination of locals and bringing many visitors to the North.
- Will Hodgman
“Mofo showcases our fine creative industries, draws visitors to our state to be part of what is one of our world class events, and provides a massive economic injection for the local economy,” he said.
When the popular Southern music and art festival came to Launceston earlier this year for the first time in its nine-year history it hosted a block party. More than 4000 people attended the inaugural event.
It was said to be a precursor to a permanent relocation of Mofo to the North.
However, in the recent state budget little clarity on the event’s future was offered.
The 2018-19 state budget stated the government supported the event, but the outcome of negotiations were still in the final stages.
In January, the festival sought $2 million a year for four years from Events Tasmania to make the event a permanent feature in the North.
During the election the Hodgman government made no funding promises. Labor committed to the requested $8 million.
Plans for next year’s event are already underway with organisers hosting an artist forum last month.
Journalist at The Examiner Newspaper
Journalist at The Examiner Newspaper
