English News Brief
Summary
Tasmania’s Museum of Old and New Art (Mona), founded by David Walsh, has accumulated $408 million in losses since opening in 2011. Despite this, Walsh is unconcerned, stating the museum is financially where he wants it to be. He is currently building a new gallery wing and library extension costing over $100 million and remains optimistic about future visitor numbers from new local ventures. His wife, Kirsha Kaechele, is intended to continue running Mona after his death.
Key Points
- Financial Losses: Mona has lost $408 million since 2011, including a $63 million loss in 2023-24.
- Owner’s Stance: David Walsh is “completely happy” with the finances, stating Mona was never intended to be profitable.
- New Construction: A $100+ million extension is underway, featuring a new gallery wing (opening December) and a library (opening next year).
- Future Vision: Walsh hopes to establish an endowment for Mona and still wants to build a hotel on-site.
- Succession Plan: Walsh’s wife, artist Kirsha Kaechele, is expected to lead Mona after his death.
- Potential Revenue Streams: Walsh outlined ways to make Mona profitable (e.g., raising ticket prices, charging Tasmanians entry, scaling back festivals) but has no plans to implement them himself.
- Tech Subsidiary: Art Processors, Mona’s experience design business, is seen as a potential financial savior, despite currently losing money.
- Visitor Numbers: Mona had 330,000 visitors in 2024-25, still below pre-COVID levels. Economists suggest the “Mona effect” may have peaked.
中文新闻简报
总结
位于塔斯马尼亚的新旧艺术博物馆（Mona）自2011年开业以来已累计亏损4.08亿美元。但其创始人大卫·沃尔什并不在意，称博物馆的财务状况正是他所期望的。他目前正在建设一个耗资超过1亿美元的新展馆侧翼和图书馆扩建项目，并对未来因当地新旅游项目而增加的游客数量持乐观态度。他的妻子基尔莎·凯谢尔预计将在其去世后继续管理Mona。
关键点
- 财务亏损：自2011年以来，Mona已亏损4.08亿美元，其中2023-24财年亏损6300万美元。
- 所有者立场：大卫·沃尔什对财务状况”完全满意”，并表示Mona从未打算盈利。
- 新建设项目：一个耗资超过1亿美元的扩建项目正在进行中，包括一个新展馆侧翼（12月开放）和一个图书馆（明年开放）。
- 未来愿景：沃尔什希望为Mona建立捐赠基金，并仍想在原址建造一家酒店。
- 继承计划：沃尔什的妻子、艺术家基尔莎·凯谢尔预计将在其去世后领导Mona。
- 潜在收入来源：沃尔什概述了使Mona盈利的方法（例如，提高门票价格、向塔斯马尼亚人收费、缩减音乐节规模），但他本人暂无实施计划。
- 科技子公司：Mona的体验设计业务Art Processors被视为潜在的财务救星，尽管目前仍在亏损。
- 游客数量：Mona在2024-25财年有33万名游客，仍低于疫情前水平。经济学家认为”Mona效应”可能已经达到顶峰。
Original Article Link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-15/mona-founder-david-walsh-on-future-of-tasmanian-museum/105982838