Mona Foma

Mona Foma, stylised as MONA FOMA (an acronym for Museum of Old and New Art: Festival of Music and Art, often further shortened to MOFO) was an annual music and arts festival held in Tasmania, Australia, curated by Violent Femmes member Brian Ritchie. Recognised as Tasmania's largest contemporary music festival, it featured a broad range of artistic genres, including sound, noise, dance, theatre, visual art, performance, and new media.

A wintertime version of the festival, Dark Mofo, is held annually in June, primarily showcasing events at night.

History Mona Foma, launched in 2009, initially took place in Hobart before moving to Launceston in 2019 and hosting events across both cities commencing the following year. Known for its mix of music, performance art, and visual installations, the festival grew into a major annual cultural event in Tasmania.

2009: Inaugural festival The first Mona Foma was held in January 2009, headlined by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. The event attracted over 10,000 attendees and included a range of performances and installations across Hobart.

Act Genre Venue Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Alternative Rock Hobart Waterfront The Saints Punk Rock Salamanca Place The Zen Circus Folk Punk Princes Wharf James Blood Ulmer Jazz/Blues Salamanca Arts Centre Fuck Buttons Noise/Electronic Princes Wharf

2010: Expanding Horizons The 2010 festival featured John Cale as its first Eminent Artist in Residence (EAR), marking a step towards broader international engagement. Curator Brian Ritchie described Mona Foma as a “unique cultural experience” and referred to it as a "cultural lighthouse" in Tasmania’s arts scene.

Act Genre Venue John Cale Rock/Avant-Garde Theatre Royal Grandmaster Flash Hip Hop Hobart Waterfront Dirty Three Post-Rock Salamanca Arts Centre Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears Blues/Soul Hobart Town Hall Christian Boltanski Installation Art MONA Museum

2011 Act Genre Venue PJ Harvey Alternative Rock Theatre Royal The Dresden Dolls Punk Cabaret Hobart Waterfront Neil Gaiman Literary Reading Hobart Town Hall The Raah Project Electronic Jazz Salamanca Arts Centre

2012 Act Genre Venue Philip Glass Minimalist Hobart Town Hall Grinderman Alternative Rock Theatre Royal Wire Punk Rock Salamanca Arts Centre Tony Conrad Avant-Garde MONA Museum

2013: Continued eclecticism By 2013, Mona Foma’s programming had become widely noted for its diverse lineup. That year’s event, described as “eclectic as ever” by The Sydney Morning Herald, included experimental music, dance, and performance art, drawing both international and Australian artists.

Act Genre Venue David Byrne & St. Vincent Indie Rock Theatre Royal Dirty Projectors Experimental Pop Hobart Waterfront Explosions in the Sky Post-Rock Hobart Town Hall Swans Noise Rock MONA Museum

2014

Act Genre Venue The Flaming Lips Psychedelic Rock Theatre Royal Laibach Industrial Princes Wharf The Residents Avant-Garde MONA Museum Julian Cope Rock Hobart Town Hall Laurie Anderson Experimental Theatre Royal

2015: Partnership with Insite Arts In 2015, Mona Foma partnered with Insite Arts to support larger, site-specific installations that aligned with the festival’s goal of creating immersive art experiences.

Act Genre Venue FKA Twigs Experimental R&B Hobart Waterfront Flight Facilities Electronic Theatre Royal Tricky Trip-Hop Princes Wharf The Church Alternative Rock Theatre Royal Ben Frost Ambient MONA Museum

2016: Experimentalism The 2016 Mona Foma featured an experimental lineup with performances from Tetema (a collaboration between Mike Patton of Faith No More and Australian composer Anthony Pateras), Swans, and minimalist musician Philip Glass. Art installations ranged from immersive displays to pieces that provoked public discussion.

Act Genre Venue Tetema (Mike Patton & Anthony Pateras) Experimental Rock Theatre Royal Philip Glass Minimalist MONA Museum Violent Femmes Folk Punk Hobart Waterfront Swans Noise Rock Princes Wharf Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith Electronic Hobart Waterfront

2019: Relocation to Launceston In 2019, Mona Foma relocated to Launceston, where it continued to showcase a wide range of performances and visual art. This year’s festival included installations that engaged with public spaces and continued the festival’s reputation for innovative programming.

2020: Language and cultural themes The 2020 festival examined themes around “music’s language barriers,” featuring artists from varied cultural backgrounds and languages, with a focus on performances that transcended traditional linguistic divides. The festival included a performance at Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery by Josh Foley (*performing as Xydep Xydahlia) and took place inside Foley's large scale immersive installation called Calculating Infinity which drew record crowds to the site.

2021: Sidney Nolan retrospective The 2021 edition featured a retrospective on Australian artist Sidney Nolan, including his experimental spray-painted works, continuing the festival’s emphasis on visual arts and its showcasing of prominent Australian artists.

2023: Feminist and Indie Headliners In 2023, Mona Foma’s lineup included feminist punk and indie artists such as Angel Olsen, Bikini Kill, and Peaches. This lineup highlighted the festival’s focus on diverse genres and artists.

2024: Final Festival and closure In April 2024, it was announced that Mona Foma would no longer continue. Founder David Walsh cited the "spell wearing off" as a primary reason for the festival's closure. The announcement marked the end of what had become a major event in Tasmania’s arts calendar.

Mona Foma

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