Dark Mofo 2023: Leigh Carmichael says festival may have to be cut to one-week event in future

Dark Mofo’s outgoing creative director Leigh Carmichael has warned of storm clouds on the horizon for the beloved event, saying the festival may be forced to run for one week instead of two in the future. FIND OUT WHY >

Dark Mofo Winter Feast. Picture: Jesse Hunniford/Dark Mofo

Dark Mofo could be reduced to a one-week affair in coming years, as the festival grapples with skyrocketing costs amid an uncertain economic climate.

The festival’s artistic director, Leigh Carmichael, said Dark Mofo could “essentially” no longer afford to run for two weeks.

“With the way costs are at the moment, it really looks like the future is going to have to be reduced to maybe a one-week scenario,” he told the Sunday Tasmanian.

“We either need to pull it back or we need more money. And [in this] economic environment, it doesn’t seem like more money is really an option on the table at the moment.”

Dark Mofo Creative Director Leigh Carmichael. Picture: Chris Kidd

The state government inked a three-year funding agreement with Dark Mofo in 2021, subsidising the festival to the tune of $7.5m until 2024.

Mr Carmichael said the government’s contribution to keeping the festival going was “already pretty significant”. But Mona founder, David Walsh, has had to pump $5m into the 2023 event alone due to cost blowouts and inflationary pressures.

Over the course of Dark Mofo’s 10-year history, Mr Walsh has contributed between $25-30m to the festival, according to Mr Carmichael.

“David has essentially put in more of his own personal money each year than the government,” he said.

Winter Feast, Dark Mofo 2021. Picture: Jesse Hunniford/ DarkLab

In terms of the overall funding picture, Mr Carmichael said, “We’ve kind of reached our limits there and that is going to need to be pulled back”.

“So that’s a hard sell,” he said. “It’s kind of where we’re at.”

Mr Carmichael will exit the artistic director role following this year’s festival. He will be replaced by Chris Twite, who has been the creative force behind numerous cultural events, including Sydney Festival, Red Bull Music Festival, and Falls Festival.