Crowd numbers might be smaller, but there will be no limit to the creative boundaries pushed by Mona Foma.
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The four-day festival's Launceston leg gets underway tomorrow, in what marks one of the first major events to go ahead in Australia in 2021.
With a line-up consisting of 350 artists - 90 per cent of which are from Tasmania - across 59 venues in Launceston and Hobart, curator Brian Ritchie said organisers had overcome many challenges to ensure it went ahead.
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"We've had to create a program that has multiple layers, because we didn't know what kind of restrictions would be in place by the time the festival rolled out," he said.
"We are using sites as the headliner this year, because we weren't able to bring international, performer-type headliners. So we are actually using the spaces as the drawcard and an exciting point of the program.
"We certainly couldn't have expected any of the stuff we faced coming into this event, but here we are and it's a real testament to our team and the state government for having the nerve and Events Tasmania to support us and let us go ahead with it."
The festival will operate as a level three event under the state government's safe events and activities framework.
Ritchie said while Mona Foma would be a different experience than past events, safety remained front and centre.
"The numbers will be smaller and the situations will be more controlled," he said.
"One of the things we've done is decide to stick with the plan. We are sticking with the capacities we chose several months ago, even though legally and technically we would be allowed to increase capacity. We are sticking with a smaller capacity so people are comfortable, safe and manageable."
Small Business, Hospitality and Events Minister Sarah Courtney said she was pleased the government had been able to work with organisers to ensure the festival went ahead.
"I am really excited that Mona has been able to be so innovative," she said.
"We know that things have been challenging, and we also know there's been a high degree of uncertainty.
"So to be able to bring together an event like this, in such challenging circumstances, is an absolute credit to the whole team."
The festival's ticketed events are sold out, with a waiting list for if more become available. However, there are a range of free events that only require attendees to sign in on arrival.
Ritchie pointed to Aqua Luma at the Gorge as a particular highlight in the free event calendar, but said the festival's real stars were those working behind the scenes.
"It has been an eye opener to organise this festival," he said.
"We've all been working together in ways that we probably couldn't have envisioned in the past."
Mona Foma runs from January 15-17 in Launceston and January 22-24 in Hobart. Visit mofo.net.au for more information.