Mona’s Festival of Music and Art, Mona Foma will go statewide in January 2021, taking place over two weekends in two cities, Launceston: 15 – 17 January and Hobart: 22 – 24 January.
Known for its unique programming, from giant puppet theatre in Launceston’s iconic Cataract Gorge, to a sourdough-clad dancer in Hobart, Mona Foma will host events in venues across both locations during the week between the festival weekends.
“Mona Foma thrives on reinvention and we are compelled to do that big time in January 2021,” said Brian Ritchie, Mona Foma curator. “One weekend in Launceston, and one weekend in Hobart, to spread the love. Great Tasmanian artists, unusual venues, and an irrepressible creativity.”
This year’s festival will take into account the changed circumstances necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Hosting Mona Foma across the two cities of Launceston and Hobart is a fantastic approach and will ensure that more Tasmanians are able to attend what will no doubt be an exciting and creative Festival,” said Alex Heroys, CEO of Destination Southern Tasmania.
“We look forward to working with Mona and Visit Northern Tasmania to make this a truly Tasmanian festival. We expect this approach will boost the economies of both cities and assist visitors to explore more areas of our state.”
“With so much gloomy news about events cancelling or rescheduling across the summer, to see Mona double-down and commit to running Mona-Foma is great news,” said Chris Griffin, CEO of Visit Northern Tasmania.
“We are confident that the dual programs they’ll run between Launceston and Hobart will have Tasmanians enthusiastically travelling back and forth between our two great cities.”
Mona Foma has been running in Tasmania since 2009. It has been based in Launceston since 2019. 61% of Mona Foma 2020 artists came from Tasmania, including organisations such as Terrapin, Tasdance, Stompin and the TSO, along with many independent arts and performance groups. Mona Foma welcomes the opportunity to continue to work with the local community.
Mona Foma will run from Friday 15 January until Sunday 24 January 2021. For more information, to sign up to the mailing list for festival and program updates, visit: www.monafoma.net.au for details.
Image: Man, Parer Studio, Cataract Gorge, Launceston, Mona Foma, 2019. Image courtesy of the artist and MONA Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia – photo by Jesse Hunniford / MONA