Mona Foma launches full 2022 program ahead of festival in January

The festival, spread between two cities, celebrates Tasmania's homegrown talent alongside acclaimed acts from further afield.

Events Minister Sarah Courtney said the dual-city format meant more Tasmanians and visitors would have the opportunity to attend the festival.

"Large-scale cultural events such as Mona Foma are significant drivers for both intrastate and interstate tourism, boosting our local economy and providing an important platform for Tasmanian artists," she said.

"Around 70 per cent of the content [in the 2022 program] is from Tasmanian artists."

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The 14th festival includes more than 300 artists across 40 venues in Launceston, Hobart, and the Midland Highway.

"Mona Foma reprises its dual-city model and continues to focus on local Tasmanian performers and makers, on their own and in collaboration with interstate and international artists," artistic director Brian Ritchie said.

"It is exciting to contribute to Tasmania's cultural reawakening and reopening."

Launceston highlights include Megan Cope's collection of sonic sculptures titled Untitled (Death Song). The works are made from discarded mining relics, geological samples, and piano strings activated by Tasmanian musicians.

Launceston's old National Theatre will host the video artwork Pacific Sun by German artist Thomas Demand, which recreates a YouTube clip of a cruise ship weathering a storm.

Yuwaalaraay man Warren Mason will construct Tin Camp Studio - a pop-up space for performance, musical story-telling, and healing built from salvaged materials and modelled on Aboriginal-built tin camps.

Mr Ritchie said it was more important than ever to work with Indigenous and First Nations people.

"It's time for their stories to be told and it has to be told by the people who are living it. We are happy to give ... a platform," he said.

Contemporary harpist Emily Sanzaro will perform her debut solo album Awaken at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery's planetarium, while cross-cultural avant-garde musicians, Zoj, will pop up in multiple locations around the city.

The highlights join previously announced Legs On The Wall project THAW - an artist performing on top of a sculpted 2.4-tonne block of ice melting over Cataract Gorge - and Midnight Oil, as well as other events.

"We love the Gorge because of its family vibe and people can just come and go as they please and see as much of it as they like," Mr Ritchie said.

Hobart highlights include Robin Fox's BEACON, Theresa Sainty and Sharnie Read's PANUPIRI, WITHI MAPALI, Terrapin with Dylan Sheridan's All Day Breakfast, Alicia Frankovich's AQI2020, and Anri Sala's Time No Longer.

Both cities will experience the evening concerts known as Mofo Sessions, tuylupa by pakana kanaplila and Tasdance, Morning Meditations, real-life Monster Trucks from Terrapin, and other dual-city acts.

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The work from pakana kanaplila in conjunction with Tasdance was waylaid by COVID-19, but Mr Ritchie said he was happy to finally see it completed.

To gain access to Mona Foma's ticketed events, attendees must provide proof of vaccination. Masks may be required at some events.

"We have to accept that COVID is here to stay. It's how we live with it and what measures we take [that are important]," Mr Ritchie said.

Ms Courtney said at the events she had attended previously, she had seen Tasmanians do the right thing in regards to social distancing and masks.

"With the border reopening on December 15, it will be wonderful to see both Tasmanians and interstate visitors take advantage of this diverse program," she said.

The state government recently committed $6.9 million in funding, in conjunction with David Walsh's continued support, to assist in delivering Mona Foma over the next three years.

The festival will be held in Launceston from January 21-23 and in nipaluna/Hobart from January 28-30. Tickets are on sale from December 6 at 10am. To subscribe to the mailing list or find out more information on the program visit mofo.net.au.

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