Justice

We commit to:

• Supporting First Nations cultural protocols, self-determination and cultural safety, across all aspects of our operations and programming
• Minimising barriers to access and participation for artists, to reflect diverse stories, cultures and experiences
• Equitable, ethical and inclusive work conditions

Friendship

We commit to:

• Fostering possibilities for reciprocal and intergenerational listening, learning and exchange
• Working with people in ways that are non-extractive and non-appropriative
• Sharing our skills and resources with an expanding and evolving network of artists, communities, organisations and audiences

Care

We commit to:

• Creating a culturally safe organisation for people to be who they are
• Working with our collaborators at a pace that recognises each other’s capacities and capabilities
• Building purposeful cross-industry partnerships to support sustainable practices

Artists

We support early-career practitioners to test, develop and share their creative practice.

We do this by:

• Delivering intergenerational and peer-to-peer mentorship programs.
• Recognising early-career as a practitioner in the initial stage of their professional career, rather than age-specific .
• Providing space, time and remuneration to practitioners through open and accessible expressions of interest (EOI).
• Focusing on professional and creative development that has flexible programming outcomes, and supports experimentation.
• Advocating for mentorship and artist-led learning that is rigorous and sustained.
• Prioritising practitioners who endure systemic barriers to access and participation in the industry, including First Nations, migrant and refugee, d/Deaf, Disabled, neurodivergent, chronically ill and LGBTIQA+ communities.

Programming

We connect artists, audiences, and communities to learn with and from each other.

We do this by:

• Delivering public-facing and industry-specific events, workshops, artist talks, screenings and presentations that showcase the creative development process.
• Presenting accessible and inclusive programs that reflect and engage the diversity of our Merri-bek and Victorian communities.
• Establishing Brunswick Mechanics Institute as a space for creation, and prioritising venue hire to Merri-bek artists and communities.
• Honouring the history of Brunswick Mechanics Institute as a space of communal and informal learning, to continue this legacy for a new generation of practitioners.
• Creating a Program Advisory Group to enrich our programming approach.

Community

We create open and welcoming spaces for communities to gather and engage in creative experimentation.

We do this by:

• Responding to community needs through open day neighbourhood gatherings at Brunswick Mechanics Institute and by opening our front doors regularly.
• Activating the external spaces of Brunswick Mechanics Institute to provide multiple points of connection for communities to engage with Next Wave.
• Prioritising communities from Merri-bek and Victoria, and sharing opportunities beyond the inner-city to the suburbs, regions and rural communities.
• Mobilising a Program Advisory Group to ensure that Merri-bek and broader Victorian-based communities see themselves represented and reflected in our program outputs.
• Upholding an organisation-wide commitment to access, diversity, equity and inclusion.

Partnerships

We collaborate with values-aligned organisations to deliver responsive and impactful opportunities for early-career practitioners.

We do this by:

• Sharing our resources, experiences, skills and space with other arts organisations to collectively build the capacity of early-career practitioners.
• Deepening our engagement with Merri-bek and Victoria-based organisations.
• Strengthening our relationships with First Nations, migrant and refugee, d/Deaf, Disabled, neurodivergent, chronically ill and LGBTIQA+ led arts and cultural organisations.
• Divesting from organisations that do not share our values or commitment to sustainable practices.