Taste of Tasmaia festival weaving a Webb of change

Free entry to one of the state’s most popular festivals will be reviewed as it looks for a new director to take the event to the “next level”.

Outgoing Taste of Tasmania festival director, Brooke Webb. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

FREE entry to one of the state’s most popular festivals will be reviewed as it looks for a new director to take the event to the “next level”.

This year’s festival director Brooke Webb confirmed yesterday she would step down from her Taste of Tasmania role in April.

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The decision comes as Ms Webb said she personally believed festival directors should only work for three seasons to keep the event fresh.

“I feel like I’ve been an agent of change and reminded people about the inherent value of the Taste,” she said.

“It’s such an important time for the Taste festival that I want to allow enough space for someone to come in and take it to the next level.”

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Since starting with the Taste in September 2017, Ms Webb’s directorship has seen sponsorships increase by 537 per cent and investments of more than $500,000 injected into developing the local arts and culture scene.

One of her favourite festival moments included watching families and children enjoy the surprise 30th anniversary rainbow carpet during the 2018-19 season, which set a new attendance record of 263,000.

“There’s so many possibilities and there is so much potential, but I’ll leave that up to the next lucky festival director to take charge,” she said.

Outgoing Taste of Tasmania festival director, Brooke Webb and Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

Hobart City Council Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said the council would begin looking for a new director shortly, as it also considered introducing festival entry fees.

“Brooke has certainly reinvigorated the Taste and got it in a really healthy position for the next phase of its life,” she said.

“We’re going to have a really good look at the recommendations from Brooke and the team following this most recent event, but it is fair to say that the Hobart ratepayers have been putting in a lot of money over a lot of years to make this Taste work.”

The State Government has locked in another $250,000 in funds for the 2020-21 season, but Ms Webb said increased costs had created a greater need for improved revenue streams.

“Currently New Year’s Eve and the Daily Reserve seating are the only revenue-drivers that we have at the festival,” she said.

“But costs are a real thing. I think it’s a conversation that we’ll need to have.”