DARK NO-GO

FESTIVAL CANNED AS NEW CASE CONFIRMED

ORGANISERS of Hobart’s winter festival Dark Mofo have been forced to cancel this year’s hugely popular event amid coronavirus fears.

Concerns about an outbreak grew last night when the third case of coronavirus was confirmed in Tasmania. Director of Public Health Mark Veitch said the person had been admitted to the Royal Hobart Hospital.

Dark Mofo creative director Leigh Carmichael, pictured, said the financial exposure faced by Mona owner David Walsh of a lastminute cancellation would run into the millions and likely would have ended the festival permanently.

The move has been described as a “shocking blow” because the festival injects about $50 million into the state.

THE state’s tourism industry is expected to take a $50 million hit after Mona’s controversial winter solstice festival Dark Mofo was cancelled because of the spread of coronavirus.

Dark Mofo creative director Leigh Carmichael said it was with deep regret and sadness the decision was made. However, the financial exposure faced by Mona owner David Walsh of a last-minute cancellation would run into the millions, and likely would have ended the festival permanently.

“We’ve had to act decisively to ensure Dark Mofo’s longterm survival,” he said.

Carmichael said the decision was made following a thorough risk assessment on the potential impact and disruption the coronavirus crisis could have on the festival.

“The implications of COVID-19 and subsequent travel, financial and logistical issues, are beyond our control,” he said. “Our current priority is to minimise the implications and cost on our audience, artists, suppliers, sponsors and key stakeholders, and support our staff through a challenging period.”

Dark Mofo draws in about 25,000 tourists during the festival, which is worth about $50 million to the economy.

Bon Iver’s two sold-out shows on June 12 and 13 will still go ahead at this stage. Premier and Tourism Minister Peter Gutwein said plans were underway to create another event or festival to fill the void.

“Obviously we were prepared to support financially Dark Mofo, as we do each year,” Mr Gutwein said. “That money will be available to look at some other iteration of some form of an event or festival.

“We’ll work closely with the Hobart City Council, who I know also have provided financial support in the past, and were planning to do so again this year. We’ll also speak with regional councils as well [as] work closely with Mona with a view to be able to provide a

first-class event, certainly not to the scale that we’ve come to expect, but something that will fill the void.” Mr Gutwein said they looked forward to the event’s return next year “in spectacular style”.

Labor leader Rebecca White said the difficult decision to cancel would have a profound effect on the state’s economy. “Dark Mofo is an outstanding event that’s got international acclaim and a reputation that drives visitation to Tasmania in the winter months,” she said.

“It will be deeply missed by those in the economy here who rely upon that visitation to keep their businesses ticking over, but also those artists that rely on the exposure that Dark Mofo provides them.”

Greens health and arts spokeswoman Rosalie Woodruff said while it was a blow to Tasmania’s arts scene, Mona and DarkLab made a tough and pragmatic call.

Organisers of the popular Festival of Voices will forge ahead with this year’s celebration of singing. Festival director Peter Choraziak said “our current position is that we will proceed as planned”.

“We make this decision in line with advice from the Chief Medical Officer, Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, Live Performance Australia and state and federal governments,” he said.