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 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.

It’s in our DNA to test, embrace change and pilot.

We’ve been doing it for 35 years – seeding networks, breaking new ground and pollinating art-making across this country, wide and far.

With this embedded in our legacy and our future, we open up our artistic leadership model to orientate our work beyond our hub in Brunswick and guide our key programs and activities.

In true Next Wave style, rather than having one Artistic Director, we asked for eight – an ensemble who will be pivotal in generating ideas, extending networks and unearthing new artistic voices and visions.

The Artistic Directorate will work with Next Wave for two years, curating and mentoring, shaping connectivity of artists across the continent and offering local perspectives on practice and communities.

We recognise the generosity and goodwill these identified mid-career and established artists inherently possess, and acknowledge the intrinsic value of their existing relationships, network and experience they bring to these positions