Art and Culture in Tasmania: Mona, Dark Mofo and World-Class Creative Scene

Tasmania punches so far above its cultural weight that it has become a major factor in attracting mainland migration and international visitation. Mona (Museum of Old and New Art) at Berriedale on the Derwent River is the transformative institution — David Walsh's private collection in an underground labyrinth, which since opening in 2011 has made Tasmania a pilgrimage destination for the art world globally. Dark Mofo, Mona's winter festival in June, is one of Australia's most singular arts events, with large-scale installations, music, fire rituals and solstice events concentrated around the winter solstice. Mona Foma in January is the summer festival. The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) has significant collections, and the Art Gallery of Ballarat is the mainland peer. The Salamanca Arts Centre and CAST (Contemporary Art Services Tasmania) support a strong local artist community. Salamanca Market on Saturdays is as much a cultural performance as a market. Launceston's QVMAG and the Inveresk precinct anchor the north's cultural infrastructure. The Ten Days on the Island biennial festival showcases international island and island-adjacent arts.