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.

Now more than ever, our long-term investment in early-career artists and arts workers is critical to ensure the arts and cultural sector of the future is vibrant, equitable and strong.

We’re currently seeking support for our Kickstart program. Over the past 25 years, Next Wave’s Kickstart program has supported hundreds of early-career artists to develop ambitious new work.

Click here to make a donation

Interested in partnering with Next Wave? Email elyse@nextwave.org.au for more information. We’d love to hear from you!

Georgia Lucy, Gough & Margaret’s Bull Clip, Kickstart, 2025, Next Wave, Narrm/Melbourne. Courtesy the artist. Photo: Mae Hartrick.

Adrian Goldfinch
Annie Robinson
Bec Cole
Chelsea Lang
Dan Koop
David Ralph
Dominic Taranto
Drew Pettifer
Hannah Grey
Hannah Jensen
Jamie Lewis
Julia Gregg
Lena Nahlous
Marita Dyson
Nicole Smith
Tom McKinnon
Annonymous x 7