Controversial Hobart winter festival Dark Mofo will make a full return from a one-year “hibernation”, bucking the trend of many events nationwide.
The festival ran a reduced offering in 2024 amid financial headwinds and a desire to reset its foundations for ongoing success.
Artistic director Chris Twite on Friday announced Dark Mofo would hold a full two-week program from June 5-15.
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The annual naked winter solstice swim, which was still held this year, will take place on June 21.
“We’re back and roaring to life (for) what we hope will be another decade of darkness,” Twite said.
“For our 11th chapter, once more we’ll bathe the city in red.”
Dark Mofo has often raised eyebrows, including in 2018 when inverted Christian crosses were installed along Hobart’s waterfront.
In 2021, it was forced to pull the pin on work asking Indigenous people to contribute blood after backlash labelling the piece insensitive and disrespectful.
Twite said a detailed program for 2025 would be revealed in April, but confirmed Night Mass and the ceremonial Ogoh-Ogoh burning would return.
“We want you to turn up on day one and know it’s Dark Mofo,” he said.
“We’ll see a lot of interesting things happening.”
Festivals have struggled in Australia in recent years, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, with events including Bluesfest and Splendour in the Grass either cancelling or folding completely.
Tasmania’s Liberal government has boosted its financial contribution to Dark Mofo from $7.5 million over three years to $21.6 million to the end of 2027.
“An iconic Tasmanian event, Dark Mofo is recognised as a world-class winter festival,” Events Minister Nick Duigan said.
“The festival drives significant interstate and international visitation to Tasmania during our off-season.
“From 2013 to 2023 (it) attracted more than 300,000 unique visitors to Tasmania.
“It also delivers a strong return on investment to the state, significantly boosting the tourism and the hospitality sectors in the quieter winter months.”
‘A gift to Tasmania’
Dark Mofo, which draws on the coffers of Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) owner David Walsh, runs at a loss.
Twite said despite some cost-saving measures, he didn’t expect the event to turn a profit in 2025.
“This is a subsidised festival. It is a gift to the Tasmanian people,” he said.
“This festival is run at such a scale and with such ambition it will always remain that.”
Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO Amy Hills said a fully-fledged Dark Mofo was vital for businesses and their long-term planning.
“This year we did struggle a little bit to get those interstate visitors in. (This is) big for confidence in the industry,” she said.
“We know festivals and events are struggling right across the country.”
A limited number of pre-sale tickets for Night Mass will be up for grabs on Tuesday.