The Tassie leg of the Falls Festival brings in approximately $150 million directly or indirectly to the Tasmanian economy each year. Sadly the Tasmanian Government have slashed funding and the continuation of the annual event in Tasmania is in doubt after nine years.
In order to continue providing high quality acts to Tasmania through the Falls Festival organisers have requested $350,000 in funding for every year the event is held. Thus far the goverment has contributed around $900,000 over a period of nine years. Surely with the amount of money the festival provides the Tasmanian economy $350,000 is not a big ask?
The request came a day after organisers of the "Taste" event called on the government to contribute more financially. Considering Tasmanian icon MONA and the MONA FOMA festival are entirely funded privately, it begs the question- Why can't the goverment afford to spend more on supporting Arts and Cultural Events in Tasmania?
Luke Martin, Tourism Industry Council CEO described investment in the festival as a "no brainer" and has called on the goverment to restore funding in order for the survival of the Falls event in Tasmania.
Hopefully The Falls will continue in Tasmania. I guess we will see what 2012 brings.
