Tasmania’s Dark Mofo organisers urgently look for venues

Organisers of Tasmania’s winter festival, Dark Mofo have issued an urgent call-out for access to any and all unused venues in greater Hobart that could possibly be used for upcoming and future Dark Mofo events.

With a number of 2022 festival artists yet to be announced, festival organisers are still on the lookout for old ballrooms, unused industrial sheds, warehouses and other potential venues in and around Hobart that may be available this year, or in future years.

Dark Mofo Creative Director Leigh Carmichael advised “we are yet to find appropriate venues for at least four projects for this year’s festival, and we are getting desperate. At this stage it’s likely we’ll need to cancel at least some of them.

“The production demands of delivering the festival’s ambitious projects require the use of fresh, unusual, and large-capacity venues, in order to fully realise the vision of the artists.

“Organising a festival of this size and scope is really challenging, and if we can’t find large-scale venues for events, the festival is diminished and our local and visiting audiences miss out.”

Over the years, Dark Mofo has used venues that are no longer available including MAC1 shed (now a hotel), Macquarie Point yards (under development), Avalon Theatre (under development), Hobart Central Car Park on Melville Street (UTAS building), K&D Warehouse (owned by UTAS), St Davids Cathedral (the church will no longer allow use), the former Saloon Bar on Watchorn Street (now demolished), and City Hall (booked out).

Organisers are facing the prospect of cancelling events if venues can't be found.

Carmichael added "more properties in the city are being developed, putting pressure on our ability to meet demand, as we try to manage up to 20,000 patrons a night across Hobart.

“It's getting harder and harder to find spaces for our events as more properties in the city are being developed, and it’s putting pressure on our ability to meet demand, as we try to manage up to 20,000 patrons a night across Hobart.”

Interested parties can email info@darklab.net.au with information about any available venues.