Liberals pledge $8m Events Support and Attraction Fund to provide a safety net for festivals’ future
An election pledge aims to secure existing Tasmanian festivals as well as attracting new events to the state, as uncertainty swirls over the future of the iconic Falls Festival.
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THE Liberals have promised a multimillion-dollar funding package aimed at securing the future of existing Tasmanian events and festivals, and attracting new ones, if they are re-elected on May 1.
Premier Peter Gutwein said the $8 million Events Support and Attraction Fund would help retain events such as the iconic Falls Festival at Marion Bay.
The election campaign pledge comes after the Mercury revealed fears about the future of Falls, after organisers refused to confirm if the event would return to Tasmania. (See below)
Like many events, it was cancelled last summer because of the uncertainty caused by coronavirus.
Mr Gutwein said events such as Falls were tourism drawcards and provided significant economic drivers for the state’s regions.
“Over the past seven years, Tasmania has hosted an exciting and diverse range of events, from markets to fairs and major sporting events, to concerts and festivals,” he said.
“These events are part of the Tasmanian way of life, and shine a light on our regions.
“We want to continue shining a light on our regions through iconic events, and this fund will help draw tens of thousands more visitors to Tasmania, providing much-needed stimulus for local business, tourism and hospitality across our regions.”
Coronavirus wreaked havoc on events and entertainment throughout 2020, with a host of regular Tasmanian staples cancelled.
This included Dark Mofo, Tasmania’s round of the V8 Supercars, and the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.
In announcing the cancellation in July last year, Falls organisers stopped short of guaranteeing the event would return, saying they “remained hopeful” of coming back in the future.
But last week, organisers said no decision had yet been made about the Marion Bay event, prompting fans and Tasmanian musicians to plead with promoters to bring the music extravaganza back.
Fears for Falls: Uncertainty over festival’s future
DIEHARD Falls Festival fans and Tasmanian musicians alike are pleading with organisers to bring the much-loved event back to the state, as its future seemingly hangs in the balance.
The iconic music extravaganza, held at Marion Bay between Christmas and the new year, was cancelled last summer due to the uncertainty caused by coronavirus.
In announcing the festival had been scrapped, organisers Secret Sounds stopped short of guaranteeing the event would come back to Tasmania, saying they “remained hopeful” of returning to Marion Bay in the future.
Falls veteran of 15 years, Hobart’s Tom Middleton, contacted festival organisers through Facebook last week, asking them if they planned to bring the event back.
In response, he was sent a statement almost identical to the one put out in July last year cancelling the 202021 event.
After asking for clarification, Mr Middleton was told the “statement from last year still stands”.
And while the Mercury has been told no final decision has yet been made about whether Falls at Marion Bay will go ahead, fears have been raised by fans of the festival.
Tyler Richardson, the frontman of Tasmanian outfit Luca Brasi, which has performed at the festival on four occasions, said he hoped the event would proceed.
“Tasmania’s Falls is absolutely iconic,” he said.
“I’ve played at every other site and in my opinion, Tasmania’s site is untouchable.”
Richardson, who was 15 when he attended the debut festival at Marion Bay in 2003, said it would be “really sad” if it did not go ahead.
He described Falls as an annual “pilgrimage” for many.
“It’s been a big part of my life,” he said.
“It’s a great opportunity for young people to go to that festival, and it’s vital we don’t lose it.”
Mr Middleton said while he understood the reasons for the event being cancelled last summer, he believed the pandemic should not be used as a reason for scrapping it permanently.
“Falls is an integral part of the Tasmanian summer, and so many locals were lost without it last year,” he said.
“Assuming it’s safe for punters, bands and staff, we have to make sure Marion Bay is back in 2021, with the music loud, sun shining and the cold blues flowing.
“Using the pandemic as an excuse to end Falls at Marion Bay would be a dog act.”
A spokeswoman for Secret Sounds said no decision had yet been made about whether the Marion Bay event would go ahead this summer.
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