Tasmanian Theatre of the World exhibition now an international success

The Tasmanian Government is to consider supporting more international art exhibitions after the Parisian success of the Theatre of The World exhibition.

The Theatre of The World exhibition, which, when staged last year at Hobart's Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), was Australia's largest art collaboration between a public and private museum, has just closed in the French capital. While open in Hobart it attracted 350,000 visitors.

The exhibition brought together pieces from the collections of MONA owner David Walsh and previously unseen pieces from the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.

The Paris season was the brainchild of renowned French curator Jean-Hubert Martin, and saw the exhibition on display for three months La Maison Rouge, one of the Paris' most exclusive art galleries.

The Tasmanian Government is pleased with the outcome and the influence it may have on increasing international arts and tourism interest in the state.

Tasmanian Premier and Arts Minister Lara Giddings told the ABC "Hobart has already been selected as one of the top 10 destinations in the world (in 2013) by travel websites Lonely Planet and Trip Advisor (and) the Theatre of the World exhibition is another opportunity for Tasmania to shine on a global stage.

Hosting the exhibition in Paris was through an international media hosting program and was backed by Federal and Tasmanian Government funding.

Premier Giddings added "the Government provides grant support to help foster individual artists and arts organisations, including helping them to peruse international opportunities.

"The Government would be happy to pursue similar opportunities in the future, with costs to be considered on a case-by-case basis."

2nd April 2013 - UPGRADED TASMANIAN MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY REOPENED