Mona Foma
Mona Foma, stylised as MONA FOMA was an annual music and arts festival held in Tasmania, Australia, curated by Violent Femmes member Brian Ritchie. Recognised as Tasmania's largest contemporary music festival, it featured a broad range of artistic genres, including sound, noise, dance, theatre, visual art, performance, and new media.
A wintertime version of the festival, Dark Mofo, is held annually in June, primarily showcasing events at night.
History
Mona Foma, launched in 2009, initially took place in Hobart before moving to Launceston in 2019 and hosting events across both cities commencing the following year. Known for its mix of music, performance art, and visual installations, the festival grew into a major annual cultural event in Tasmania.2009: Inaugural festival
The first Mona Foma was held in January 2009, headlined by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. The event attracted over 10,000 attendees and included a range of performances and installations across Hobart.| Act | Genre | Venue |
| Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds | Alternative Rock | Hobart Waterfront |
| The Saints | Punk Rock | Salamanca Place |
| The Zen Circus | Folk Punk | Princes Wharf |
| James Blood Ulmer | Jazz/Blues | Salamanca Arts Centre |
| Fuck Buttons | Noise/Electronic | Princes Wharf |
2010: Expanding Horizons
The 2010 festival featured John Cale as its first Eminent Artist in Residence, marking a step towards broader international engagement. Curator Brian Ritchie described Mona Foma as a “unique cultural experience” and referred to it as a "cultural lighthouse" in Tasmania’s arts scene.| Act | Genre | Venue |
| John Cale | Rock/Avant-Garde | Theatre Royal |
| Grandmaster Flash | Hip Hop | Hobart Waterfront |
| Dirty Three | Post-Rock | Salamanca Arts Centre |
| Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears | Blues/Soul | Hobart Town Hall |
| Christian Boltanski | Installation Art | MONA Museum |
2011
2012
2013: Continued eclecticism
By 2013, Mona Foma’s programming had become widely noted for its diverse lineup. That year’s event, described as “eclectic as ever” by The Sydney Morning Herald, included experimental music, dance, and performance art, drawing both international and Australian artists.| Act | Genre | Venue |
| David Byrne & St. Vincent | Indie Rock | Theatre Royal |
| Dirty Projectors | Experimental Pop | Hobart Waterfront |
| Explosions in the Sky | Post-Rock | Hobart Town Hall |
| Swans | Noise Rock | MONA Museum |
2014
| Act | Genre | Venue |
| The Flaming Lips | Psychedelic Rock | Theatre Royal |
| Laibach | Industrial | Princes Wharf |
| The Residents | Avant-Garde | MONA Museum |
| Julian Cope | Rock | Hobart Town Hall |
| Laurie Anderson | Experimental | Theatre Royal |
2015: Partnership with Insite Arts
In 2015, Mona Foma partnered with Insite Arts to support larger, site-specific installations that aligned with the festival’s goal of creating immersive art experiences.| Act | Genre | Venue |
| FKA Twigs | Experimental R&B | Hobart Waterfront |
| Flight Facilities | Electronic | Theatre Royal |
| Tricky | Trip-Hop | Princes Wharf |
| The Church | Alternative Rock | Theatre Royal |
| Ben Frost | Ambient | MONA Museum |
2016: Experimentalism
The 2016 Mona Foma featured an experimental lineup with performances from Tetema, Swans, and minimalist musician Philip Glass. Art installations ranged from immersive displays to pieces that provoked public discussion.| Act | Genre | Venue |
| Tetema | Experimental Rock | Theatre Royal |
| Philip Glass | Minimalist | MONA Museum |
| Violent Femmes | Folk Punk | Hobart Waterfront |
| Swans | Noise Rock | Princes Wharf |
| Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith | Electronic | Hobart Waterfront |