Episode 24: Brian Ritchie: Violent Femmes bassist and Mona Foma artistic director on playing a pivotal role in creating a cultural powerhouse in Tasmania

Decoding Cultural Leadership

Guest: Brian Ritchie, bassist of the Violent Femmes and Artistic Director of Mona FOMA

Summary: Brian Ritchie first came to Tasmania in 1989 when the Violent Femmes played a sold-out show at the Hobart City Hall, sparking his long-standing connection to the state. He and his wife Varuni later moved to Tasmania in 2005, initially drawn by Varuni's research trips and their shared love of the Tasmanian landscape.

Brian became involved with Mona (Museum of Old and New Art) from the beginning, helping to establish the Mona FOMA festival in 2009 prior to the museum's opening in 2011. He has served as the Artistic Director of Music at Mona ever since. Brian discusses how Mona has evolved from a more traditional contemporary art museum to one with a strong performative and musical focus, with Brian programming thousands of musical performances across multiple venues each year.

He shares insights into curating an eclectic, diverse festival program that resonates with both local Tasmanian audiences and visitors, as well as navigating the challenges of regional programming. Brian also reflects on his lifelong musical career with the Violent Femmes, the band's evolution and fanbase over 43 years, and his parallel passion for the Japanese shakuhachi flute.

In discussing the intersection of culture and social change, Brian explores the unintended consequences and complexities of artists engaging in political and social issues, as well as the need for more sustainable, locally-focused artistic practices.

Key Takeaways:

• Brian Ritchie's serendipitous journey from the Violent Femmes to becoming a cultural leader in Tasmania, helping to catalyze the state's creative renaissance.
• Mona's pioneering approach to integrating music and performance into a contemporary art museum setting.
• Insights into curating an engaged, diverse festival audience and program in a regional context.
• Brian's reflections on the Violent Femmes' enduring cultural impact and his personal artistic pursuits.
• Considerations around the role of culture in driving social change, and the need for more holistic, sustainable artistic practices.

Links:

Mona – Museum of Old and New Art

Mona Foma

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Presenter and research: Sam Cairnduff

Creative Director: Niloofar Pashmforoosh

Presented in association with Limelight

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