Hobart Lord Mayor says Dark Mofo is no longer a family event and has crossed the line

UPDATE: THE Lord Mayor Ron Christie’s claims that Dark Mofo is no longer a family-friendly event and it’s funding should be reconsidered, has drawn the ire of fellow members of the Hobart City Council.

The inverted crosses have prompted “a lot of complaints” with the Lord Mayor saying the council may slash its sponsorship for Dark Mofo. Picture: Dark Mofo/Jesse Hunniford

UPDATE: THE Lord Mayor Ron Christie’s claims that Dark Mofo is no longer a family-friendly event and it’s funding should be reconsidered, has drawn the ire of fellow members of the Hobart City Council.

Alderman Marti Zucco said the Mayor should get all facts before speaking on behalf of 10 other members on the council.

“If the HCC pulls it funding it will be to the detriment to the non controversial aspect of the overall event,” Ald Zucco said.

“This is the second time in two months that this unelected Lord Mayor has spoken out without consulting with the decision makers of the city first.

“What my personal views are on the controversial component is a personal view but it should not take away the amazing component of the City of Hobart winter feast.”

Last month Ald Christie declared he would greet visitors to the city of Hobart using the name nipaluna.

MORE: 10 THINGS YOU MUST SEE AT DARK MOFO

EARLIER: DARK Mofo, which has angered some Christian groups this year with its inverted crosses, is no longer a family-friendly event and Hobart council may slash its funding for Winter Feast, says Lord Mayor Ron Christie.

But Dark Mofo’s creative director Leigh Carmichael hit back at the claims, accusing the Lord Mayor of playing politics and says cutting funding in reaction to some controversy was not a good move.

Ald Christie said the council’s sponsorship of $258,000 per year — $108,000 for venue help and a cash grant of $150,000 — was coming to an end this year and up for review.

“We’ll sit down and ask Dark Mofo what the future of their event is going to be because my personal concern is that each year we get a lot of complaints,” he said.

“It’s possible we may cut funding.”

The calls for funding cuts comes the same week that the council, including Ald Christie, voted to increase the Taste Festival funding by $400,000 from $1.2 million to $1.6 million.

MORE: CITY FINDS A LITTLE EXTRA FOR THE TASTE

“The reason we’re putting the $400,000 into Taste is because it’s the 30th anniversary so it will be the biggest party Hobart has ever seen,” he said.

Ald Christie suggested it was time to question the whether Dark Mofo was creating a healthy or unhealthy culture for Hobart.

Hobart Lord Mayor Ron Christie.

Ald Christie said the festival had courted controversy with its inverted crosses and depiction of the Last Supper on its Winter Feast website.

A change.org petition with almost 17,000 signatures calling for the immediate removal of the crosses was submitted to council this week.

“Art has to push the boundaries but where is that boundary line?” Ald Christie said.

“I think the line has been crossed based on the feedback I’m getting from the community.”

Mr Carmichael said it would be a shame if the council cut its funding.

“I think the review is an excellent opportunity to put our case for potentially more funds,” he said.

“We haven’t done an economic report for a few years but in 2015 it had a $50 million return and that was when we were selling 20,000 tickets and now we are selling 90,000 tickets.”

Mr Carmichael said he disagreed with the Lord Mayor’s opinion that Dark Mofo was not family-friendly.

“I think most people who have attended the festival would know how family-friendly it is,” he said.

Hobart City Council general manager Nick Heath said the council would need to review the funding going forward for Dark Mofo because the council’s three-year funding agreement expired at the end of this year’s event.

“Council administration has received about 20 complaints concerning the crosses and all complaints have been directed to Mona as organisers of the event,” Mr Heath said.

“It is also understood that numerous complaints have been referred to the group aldermen email address as well as to government ministers.”