The Festival utilises the Hobart gateway to the Antarctic, to showcase a city-wide multi-faceted event, which includes a large expo, indoor and outdoor activations and programs, exhibitions, tours at significant landmarks, school excursions, cultural programming, educational talks by industry experts and so much more. Join us as we celebrate Antarctica and partner with local industry, producers and providers to deliver this internationally renowned festival, with most events free to the public.
Meet the expeditioners and scientists, the tradespeople and the chefs, the communications experts, the defence force personnel, and the technicians who support Australia’s leading role in the Antarctic and Southern Ocean – for a fascinating look at our work, in the coldest, highest, driest and windiest place on earth.
About Hobart – the gateway city
The Australian Antarctic Festival is an appropriate time to celebrate the work of the International Antarctic community and the huge contribution it makes to the social fabric and working economy of Tasmania.
The city of Hobart is Australia’s Antarctic port and a thriving centre for science, logistics, shipping and crew transport servicing the Southern Ocean, Sub-Antarctic Islands and Antarctica itself. Join us for the festival as we celebrate all that is Antarctica.
Located at 42 degrees south latitude, Hobart is 2692 kilometres from the nearest Antarctic continental base – the French station at Dumont d’Urville, 3430 kilometres from the Australian Antarctic Division’s Casey Station and just 1500 kilometres from the closest Australian research station at Macquarie Island. The bases are served by an air link from Hobart International Airport.
It’s often noted that there are more Antarctic scientists located in Hobart than in any other city in the world and several important organisations are based here. These include the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS), the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), the Commission for the Conservation of Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), the CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research Institute, the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre (ACE-CRC) and the University of Tasmania (UTAS). This impressive array of scientific expertise forms a large part of the Antarctic community found in Tasmania. Hundreds of staff at the AAD support the recruitment and training of Antarctic expeditioners and the operation of shipping and transport services. Dozens of companies supply food, fuel, specialised equipment and services to support Australia’s Antarctic program and the French and Chinese Antarctic programs.
Each season, hundreds of people in Hobart prepare for the program of explorations, research, maintenance and re-supply that will begin as soon as sea ice conditions in the Southern Ocean allow. Australian icebreakers are familiar sights on the Hobart docks as they begin to take on stores and supplies for the coming summer.
Festival Director
MONIQUE GASKIN
Monique brings 20 years’ experience in managing and delivering large-scale festivals and events nationwide. As well as expertise in working in the Museums and Galleries and the Cultural sector.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing with a major in Graphic Design, Postgraduate studies in Psychology, plus a treasure trove of tertiary credentials in Museum Practices, Art Handling, and Visual Arts for good measure.
Monique is a ‘Project Mechanic’ rolling up her sleeves whilst finding inventive ways to amplify results and add flair with a burst of creativity. She’s your go-to for inventive, energetic solutions that keep festivals running like a well-oiled engine.
Fuelled by an irrepressible creative spirit, Monique spends her downtime splashing canvases and snapping colours through her camera lens.
Monique’s artistic adventures are as lively and imaginative as the festivals she brings to life.
Past Directors
