MoFo’s midwinter event is moved upstream as Tasmanian Police show their funny side.

The Museum of Old and New Art’s Dark MoFo festival celebrates the cold and darkness of winter in Tasmania with a series of arts happenings around Hobart bu earlier in the week the organisers appeared to have been forced to cancel one of their signature events. Tasmania Police expressed concern that the nude plunge into the Derwent would contravene laws relating to offensive behaviour and indecent exposure.

Now it appears a compromise has been reached after Tasmanian Police Minister David O’Byrne back-pedalled and showed he had a sense of humour into the bargain. “It’s not a case of turning the other cheek, it’s not a storm in a D-cup”, he quipped as he announced a proposed shifting of the event from Nutgrove Beach to the more discreet environs of nearby Long Beach. “It really is a case of us working together to make sure something like this can happen.”

The event should involved 25 people in “artistic” body paint with all registered participants taking part in a 50-metre sunrise dip. Surf Lifesaving Tasmania will to be on hand in case of incidents. MOMA has apparently received 200 registrations...