WALSH FIRES UP HANDS OFF MY FESTIVAL

DARK Mofo could “become tame” and “die in three years” if curators cave in to the concerns of critics, Mona owner David Walsh says.

In a week when the Hobart City Council voted to increase funding for its summer Taste Festival by $400,000, and the State Government committed a total of $5.25 million to Dark Mofo’s sister event Mona Foma over the next three years, Hobart Lord Mayor Ron Christie flagged cutting council funding to Dark Mofo’s Winter Feast.

With the council’s annual $258,000 sponsorship agreement ending this year and up for review, Ald Christie told the Mercury “the line has been crossed, based on the feedback I’m getting” about Dark Mofo, days after the council received an online petition — started by the Australian Christian Lobby in Brisbane — calling for the festival’s controversial glowing inverted crosses to be removed.

Ald Christie suggested that funding could be cut because of complaints, including about inverted crosses.

Mr Walsh said Dark Mofo was not a family festival.

“We are a festival which resists the centre, but that certainly doesn’t preclude kids,’’ he said.

“That’s our audience and HCC funding can’t be predicated on curatorial direction. If we acquiesce to curatorial influence and become tame, the festival will die in three years, so the money will be irrelevant.

“We are not driven by a need to shock, but a need to test the merit of the status quo. We believe Hobart is a city that can accommodate a diversity of views, as we do within our curatorial process.

“The measure of this festi- val is not its repeated successes but its willingness to risk honourable failure. We can’t back off, because we care too much.”

Premier Will Hodgman rejected suggestions the festival had gone too far and said he hoped there would be no threat to its funding.

“These events are very much a part of the landscape that is the most exciting, vibrant industry sector in the country … they are also important for the community to enjoy our events as well as bringing in so many visitors,’’ Mr Hodgman said.

“I’m hopeful that the council, if they make an ultimate decision on this matter, would land on the side that supports the growth and progress of Tasmania’s arts and cultural sector in supporting this event.”

Several Hobart aldermen said Ald Christie’s views did not represent those of the whole council.

Ald Marti Zucco said the mayor should get all facts before speaking on behalf of the other 10 aldermen.

“If the HCC pulls its funding it will be to the detriment to the non-controversial aspect of the overall event,” Ald Zucco said. “This is the second time in two months that this unelected Lord Mayor has spoken out without consulting with the decisionmakers of the city first.

“What my personal views are on the controversial component is a personal view but it should not take away the amazing component of the City of Hobart Winter Feast.”

Commenting on the Mercury website, Ald Philip Cocker said the mayor’s comments were “seriously wrong and not representative of the council”.

“This event has done wonders for activating Hobart and should be supported,” he said.