Dark Mofo Announces 2017 Dates And New Government Funding

Hobart’s Dark Mofo festival has only just wrapped up for another year but it’s already announced its 2017 return.

The festival will return in 2017 from 8th to 21st June celebrating art, music, film, food and light enticing artists and performers from all around the world. This year, ZHU, Chelsea Wolfe, Itchy-O and more made the trip down South and while we’re a long way off 2017’s lineup, it sounds like it’s going to be another huge year for the festival.

Dark Mofo has announced that the government will contribute $10.5 million worth of funding to the festival through a five year funding agreement.

“The five-year agreement that we have reached with the State Government is incredibly important for the ongoing success of the festival,” festival creative director Leigh Carmichael said.

“The deal will give us the ability to expand and improve the festival, commission new works, employ and train more Tasmanians, reach further into the regions, and achieve our ambitious tourism targets.”

Carmichael further thanked the community for its support and owed the government’s decision to them. “We are very grateful for the passion and at times patience, that our amazing audiences have shown us,” he said.

In order to secure the funding, Dark Mofo has committed to increasing the number of interstate and overseas visitors to the festival, growing attendance and increasing the presence of media. It has also pledged to invest $250,000 into supporting Tasmanian-based arts organisations.

Dark Mofo has already delivered great results for the Tasmanian economy. It is estimated that its 2015 event returned $46 million to the economy and made way for 400 jobs.

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