Next Wave,

About

Our vision is a world shaped by artists.

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.

See what we’ve been up to lately.
Check out our upcoming events.
View our festival archive, 2002–2020.
Read our Strategic Plan 2026-29.

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.

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Strategic Plan 2026–29

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.

Read the Next Wave 2026–2029 Strategic Plan

Our Vision

A world shaped by artists—where sustainable practices for early-career artists are prioritised across the arts and creative industries.

Our purpose

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.

Our values

Justice

  • Supporting First Nations cultural protocols, self-determination and cultural safety, across all aspects of our operations and programming, knowing that truly experimental work is only possible when artists are supported to create from a place of dignity, power, and care
  • Minimising barriers to access and participation for artists and audiences, to reflect diverse stories, cultures and experiences
  • Ensuring equitable, ethical and inclusive work conditions for artists and arts workers

Friendship

  • Fostering reciprocal relationships based on generosity, learning, respect and exchange — not just as a way of working, but as catalysts for bold ideas and unexpected collaborations to ignite and flourish
  • Sharing our skills and resources with an expanding network of artists, communities, organisations and audiences
  • Cultivating friendship is how we build artist-led communities that shape culture across the sector

Care

  • Creating a culturally safe organisation and valuing care as creative practice — creating safe spaces for early-career artists to take big risks
  • Designing programs that prioritise sustainability, reflection, and long-term development
  • Centring care at the core of everything we do — care for artists, for each other, and for the world around us

Our commitments

Commitment to First Peoples

We are committed to creating platforms that uphold First Peoples voices, knowledge and self determination, and to embedding this commitment across every part of our organisation and program.

Read our Commitment to First Peoples

Commitment to Equity, Access and Inclusion

Our commitment acknowledges the critical importance of providing equitable access to all participants and visitors, including people who identify as disabled, D/deaf or neurodiverse and acknowledges their contribution to our society as creatives and employees.

Read our Commitment to Equity, Access and Inclusion

Commitment to Sustainability

Our Commitment to Sustainability addresses Next Wave’s corporate responsibility as an institution.

Read our Commitment to Sustainability

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