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.
For almost 40 years, Next Wave has been driven by experimental leadership and 2024-25 will be no different, as we continue to test new ways of working through collectivism, reciprocity and friendship.
We are thrilled to introduce you to Next Wave’s 2024-25 Artistic Directorate!
While the inaugural Artistic Directorate have laid the groundwork in Next Wave’s transition from a local festival to a national artistic movement – the new cohort will have the important task of experimenting within and building upon these foundations.
In the first 12 months of their two-year term, the focus of the Artistic Directorate will be about establishing collective ways of working, building on the Curation as Care framework and selecting and mentoring an early career artist through our flagship program, Kickstart. They will also work closely with our Young Artistic Directorate (A Rising Tide) mentoring and supporting them as they curate and deliver much of our public program for next year – which will be announced in early 2024!
Bruno is a maker and doer working across many different disciplines . From music to metalwork, painting to performance he/they loves the thrill of trying something new (and occasionally succeeding).
Libby Harward creates artworks that break through the colonial overlay to connect with the cultural landscape, Her political practice, in a range of genres, continues this decolonising process. She is also the Director of Aboriginal Art Gallery Munimba-ja.
libbyharward.art
Lucy is an independent practitioner and mentor based in nipaluna/Hobart. Her practice spans curated exhibitions, festival commissions, community collaborations, curatorial projects, published writing and lecture presentations.
Marian is a Western Sydney-based artist working across technology and ancestral platforms She creates complex narratives by engaging with the community to build multi-layered socially responsive projects.
Rosealee Pearson is a Yolngu woman from Yirrkala in North East Arnhem Land. Rosealee has worked across many art disciplines as a Director, Dancer, Actor, Tour Manager, Event Co- ordinator, Stage Manager, Choreographer, Writer, Cultural Consultant, Producer, Festival Coordinator, Weaver and Artist. She has toured both nationally and internationally.
Sally Golding is an Australian-British artist, curator and archivist with a longstanding practice in experimental and expanded arts, and executive leadership experience across the cultural sector and artist-led initiatives. She is committed to supporting emerging artists through community engaged platforms which emphasise divergent practices and collaborative processes.
Yuhui Ng-Rodriguez is a Geelong-based, Singaporean performance-maker. Fuelled by a preoccupation with how transient places and people are, her work attempts to find a connection between home and inhabitant, country and citizen, body and culture.
Yusuf Ali Hayat is committed to social justice. He is currently the Visual Arts and Community Engagement Lead at Nexus Arts, Adelaide and on the Artistic Directorate at Next Wave.
The Artistic Directorate is our decentralised leadership model that extends our curatorial reach beyond our home-base in Narrm/Melbourne.
In 2021 when Next Wave transitioned to its new ‘not-a-festival’ direction, rather than having one artistic director, we asked for eight – one from each state and territory.
The Artistic Directorate work with each other and Next Wave for two years to mentor and nurture early career artists through Kickstart, and contribute to Next Wave’s programming, underpinned by our values of Justice, Friendship and Care.
In line with our commitment to extending relationships and building on local perspectives, these artists were selected by our inaugural Artistic Directorate, who wrapped up their curatorial term earlier this year. The selection process was guided by our Curation as Care framework, which prioritises relationships, access and artist wellbeing over competitive callouts and EOI processes.
Left to right: Bruno Booth (WA - photographed by Emma Dolzadelli, Minderoo Foundation), Libby Harward (QLD - photographed by BJ Murphy), Marian Abboud (NSW - photographed by Anna Kucera), Lucy Bleach (TAS),
Rosealee Pearson (NT), Sally Golding (ACT - photographed by Grace Costa), Yuhui Ng-Rodriguez (VIC) and
Yusuf Hayat (SA)