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 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.
Elyse Goldfinch (she/her) is a curator and writer living and working in Naarm/Melbourne with a career focus on advocacy, collaboration, exchange and support for artists across generations. Over the past ten years, she has curated, co-curated and produced around 40 exhibitions across non-profit and independent spaces, collaborating with multidisciplinary artists to develop ambitious and ground-breaking projects. Elyse is currently Curator at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art where her most recent curatorial projects include Tina Stefanou: You Can’t See Speed (upcoming), Tennant Creek Brio: Juparnta Ngattu Minjinypa Iconocrisis, From the other side, and Lucy Guerin: NEWRETRO.
Previously, Elyse was co-Chair and co-Director at Firstdraft, Australia’s longest running Artist Run Initiative; and Associate Curator at Artspace Sydney, where she co-curated 52 ARTISTS 52 ACTIONS and the 2019 – 2022 NSW Visual Arts Emerging Fellowship exhibitions; alongside other roles including the Curatorial Team of the Australian Pavilion at the 59th La Biennale di Venezia; and Coordinator for Contemporary Arts Organisations Australia.
Frances (she/her) is an experienced Producer who has worked across leading cultural institutions, including the Tate Galleries, Biennale of Sydney and Australia Council for the Arts. She is currently Lead Program Producer at Next Wave.
Frances’ practice is driven by an unwavering commitment to fairness and societal equity, particularly for/with d/Deaf and disabled artists and leaders. She sees her role as a connector and space-creator and is dedicated to supporting the development of others.
As former Manager of Industry Initiatives at Australia Council, Frances was instrumental in expanding the diversity of the Leadership Programs, establishing an international alumni network and developing strategic partnership programs to upskill the sector in advocacy, stakeholder engagement and community organising.
Cultivating care as a form of advocacy is embedded across her work and relationships. Frances is interested in creating pathways within our sector that imagine new collective futures that prioritise reciprocity, generosity and equity.
Natalia Sledz (she/her) is the Venue Producer & Operations Coordinator at Next Wave, where she leads the venue hire strategy and supports curatorial and operational objectives at the Brunswick Mechanics Institute. As an arts worker, artist and arts lover, Natalia has worn many hats in the arts world, with experience in performance, producing, venue management, facilitation, production, festivals and events. Alongside her own arts practice as a performer, she is passionate about fostering meaningful engagement and creating spaces where artists and communities can come together through joyful, dynamic and artistic experiences. With a love for taking a person-centred approach, she is passionate about creating space for artists to play and believes in the power of care, collaboration, and a well-timed snack break.
Maddie Lakos (they/them) is Next Wave’s ‘comms human’, which means they help manage our website, social media, ticketing, media and audience evaluation (among other things). Maddie has a background in publishing and editing as well as digital communications strategy for public and non-governmental organisations. They joined Next Wave in 2023, and this is their first arts sector role and they are thrilled to be ‘behind the scenes’ in an industry that they adore and value. When they’re not hanging out at Next Wave, they help run a pub football team, try to nurture their writing practice and spend a lot of time riding bicycles.
For all general enquiries, contact nextwave@nextwave.org.au