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CORONAVIRUS: Tasmania's 2020 Dark Mofo Festival Cancelled

MONA’s much-loved winter festival Dark Mofo which was set to be held Tasmania this June has been cancelled due to concerns around the impact of coronavirus.

MONA’s much-loved winter festival Dark Mofo which was set to be held Tasmania this June has been cancelled due to concerns around the impact of coronavirus.

Dark Mofo’s Creative Director Leigh Carmichael said the decision to call off the annual festival was made with “deep regret and sadness”.

“After a thorough risk assessment on the potential impact and disruption of coronavirus, we have been left with no option other than to move the current program to 2021,” he said.

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“The implications of COVID-19, and subsequent travel, financial and logistical issues, are beyond our control”.

Dark Mofo’s Creative Director Leigh Carmichael

He explained that the financial exposure faced by MONA owner David Walsh of a festival-wide last-minute cancellation would run into the millions. And that could likely end the event permanently.

“We’ve had to act decisively to ensure Dark Mofo’s long term survival,” 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.”

Karry On - Hobart The Waterfront

MONA owner David Walsh commented he was aware that killing Dark Mofo for the year would “murder an already massacred tourism environment” but he felt he had no choice.

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