Next Wave is a leading not-for-profit arts organisation dedicated to supporting early-career artists working across multiple art forms. Next Wave plays a defining role in the Australian arts landscape by empowering and advocating for early-career and experimental artistic practice in Australia.
Through mentorships, creative developments, public programs, events, live performances and partnerships, Next Wave creates spaces for gathering and exchange, ambition and experimentation, and meaningful community connections.
Established in 1984 as a biennial Festival, Next Wave now runs a year-long program from our home at Brunswick Mechanics Institute, in Naarm/Melbourne. As Next Wave continues to evolve in response to the changing nature of artist and sector needs, its commitment to investing in and nurturing artists at the most critical stage of their career remains constant. Next Wave’s program enables artists and audiences to test ideas and push boundaries that embrace new perspectives, challenge our thinking and platform the next generation of cultural leaders.
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View our festival archive, 2002–2020.
Read our Strategic Plan 2025-28.
From the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Eastern Kulin Nations, Next Wave is privileged to traverse the land and waterways of this continent of many nations – to share in the act of art making and culture building – grounded on justice, friendship and care. This always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.
Read the Next Wave 2026–2029 Strategic Plan
For over 40-years, Next Wave has been the incubator for Australia’s most ambitious and boundary-pushing young and emerging artists. Since its beginnings as a biennial festival in 1984, Next Wave has continually adapted – both to the changing needs of artists and to the shifting cultural and political climate in which art is made and experienced.
Since 2020, we have evolved from a festival model to focus on year-round creative development, intergenerational exchange, curatorial programming and community engagement. This evolution has been shaped by deep consultation, reflection, and a clear commitment to be the platform where early-career artists can take creative risks, challenge dominant narratives, and imagine bold futures. We connect to audiences through exhibitions, public programs, events and performances, creating meaningful spaces for community gathering and artist-led knowledge exchange.
Next Wave plays a vital role in Victoria’s cultural ecology, providing essential infrastructure, support, and visibility for early-career artists and experimental practice. For many artists, it is one of the first touchpoints for sustained professional development, mentorship, and public presentation at an institutional level. Without organisations like Next Wave, many artists would not gain the practical skills, networks, or experience required to work within larger institutions or to sustain long-term creative careers.
Now anchored in dedicated premises at Brunswick Mechanics Institute in Bulleke-bek/Brunswick on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country, Next Wave is committed to amplifying multi-arts, experimental, and community-driven practices that are deeply embedded in our local context.
Our 2026–2029 Strategic Plan has been developed during a period of renewal and development across Next Wave’s leadership, operations, and artistic programming. It sets the course for our next chapter and reaffirms our core purpose: to support early-career artists through tailored mentorships, pathways, and year-round public-facing programs that centre experimentation, access, and cultural relevance for our community of artists and audiences across Victoria.
As we reflect on a legacy of pushing boundaries, we also look ahead to a bold reimagining of what’s possible for Next Wave — facilitating a future that is artist-led, resilient, and always relevant. Over the next three years, we will also invest in the systems that sustain people and practice by enhancing our capacity, governance and infrastructure to ensure artists are supported with integrity, care, and transparency. We are devoted to providing a significant platform for artists to experiment and develop their work, and for diverse communities to participate in new transformative forms of artistic practice and cultural engagement.
A world shaped by artists—where sustainable practices for early-career artists are prioritised across the arts and creative industries.
Next Wave champions, supports and resources early-career artists through creative development, peer exchange, new commissions, and industry pathways that empower them to experiment, take risks and lead change.
Justice
Friendship
Care