A Cultural Turning Point for Tasmania
Since opening in 2011, the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) has transformed Tasmania’s identity—from a quiet island state to one of the world’s most talked-about cultural destinations. Founded by philanthropist and collector David Walsh, MONA quickly became a global attraction, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to its bold, underground gallery on the banks of the River Derwent in Hobart.
But MONA is far more than a tourist destination. It has reshaped the arts ecosystem in Tasmania and become a key driver of creative, economic, and social change.
Creating Opportunity for Tasmanian Artists
MONA has raised the profile of Tasmanian artists by:
- Providing exhibition opportunities through programs like Mona Foma and Dark Mofo.
- Collaborating with local creatives in design, sound, performance, and visual arts.
- Attracting national and international curators, critics, and institutions who now see Tasmania as a place for serious contemporary art.
- Emerging artists benefit from exposure, while established practitioners find new platforms for ambitious work.
Growing the Audience for Contemporary Art
Before MONA, contemporary art had a niche audience in Tasmania. Today:
- Art is part of the mainstream conversation.
- Locals and tourists engage with challenging, provocative, and experimental work.
- Annual festivals like Mona Foma and Dark Mofo attract tens of thousands of attendees and are a gateway to the broader Tasmanian arts scene.
MONA has helped make art accessible, exciting, and unmissable, even for those who may not have seen themselves as “art people” before.
Driving Arts Tourism and the Creative Economy
MONA has had a huge economic impact:
- It helped create a year-round tourism economy, reducing the “off-season” that once plagued local businesses.
- Events like Dark Mofo bring in millions of dollars in visitor spending, benefiting hotels, restaurants, galleries, markets, and makers across Southern Tasmania.
- Many regional galleries, artist-run spaces, and festivals now thrive thanks to the increased interest MONA has generated in Tasmanian culture.
The “MONA effect” has been credited with everything from real estate revitalisation to the rise of creative industries and job opportunities across the state.
Inspiring Local Confidence and Global Connection
MONA has helped Tasmanians see their home as a place of cultural leadership, not just natural beauty. It’s shown that bold ideas can succeed—even when they’re unconventional or risky.
At the same time, MONA has connected Tasmania to a global arts network, hosting artists and audiences from all over the world and giving local work international context.
Supporting Education and Innovation
MONA supports learning and exploration through:
- Talks, tours, and experimental programs that encourage curiosity and debate.
- Collaborations with universities and research institutions.
- Inspiring a new generation of students, educators, and arts professionals to think creatively and work fearlessly.
It has become a catalyst for innovation in both arts and education.
A Platform for Creative Risk
One of MONA’s most important roles is to give space to unconventional, uncomfortable, or experimental work. In doing so, it:
- Encourages creative risk-taking.
- Opens up new possibilities for cross-disciplinary collaboration.
- Challenges artists, curators, and audiences to think deeply—and differently.
This level of artistic freedom is rare and valuable, particularly in a small regional context.
In Summary
MONA is more than just a museum. It’s a cultural engine that fuels Tasmania’s creative identity, artistic ambition, and economic growth. It has:
- Put Tasmania on the international arts map
- Created real opportunities for local artists
- Grown and diversified arts audiences
- Boosted tourism and the creative economy
- Inspired education, confidence, and innovation
Whether you’re an artist, educator, policymaker, or curious visitor, MONA has changed what’s possible in Tasmania, and continues to shape a bold new future for the arts.