2025 is shaping up to be an incredible year!

Next Wave is collaborating with organisations from across Naarm/Melbourne to present an extended program of artist-led activities and events at Brunswick Mechanics Institute and beyond. We’re working with our programming resident Composite, as well as A Climate For Art (ACFA), Contemporary Art and Social Transformation (CAST) at RMIT and more.

Here’s a preview of what’s coming up:

Below The Surface presents Vision Board and Networking events

Young Artistic Director Lydia Tesema is bringing her annual Below The Surface vision boarding workshop to Brunswick Mechanics Institute.
This will be an opportunity to connect with likeminded local creatives, young professionals and entrepreneurs—while creating a collage or visual representation of your goals, dreams and aspirations.
Saturday 18 January, Brunswick Mechanics Institute
Tickets coming soon

Finite Eyes screening (Composite)

Finite Eyes brings together live performance, pre-recorded sound and moving image to explore the emotive pull and mobilising force of utopian visions.
Friday 24 January, Brunswick Mechanics Institute
Tickets via Composite

ACFA Symposium

Next Wave is collaborating with A Climate for Art (ACFA) who are curating a symposium of workshops and talks focused on climate crisis and the arts sector. The symposium draws in the knowledge of climate leaders, activists, researchers and creative practitioners, building relationships and a vocabulary about how culture underpins the climate crisis and how culture is in turn affected by environmental imbalance.
13–14 February, George Paton Gallery
More details to be announced in early 2025

Brunswick Music Festival at the Mechanics Institute

We’re thrilled to partner with Brunswick Music Festival once again in 2025.
As part of the festival, MESS (Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio) takes over the Brunswick Mechanics Institute for the first time with New Waveforms. This showcase on Wednesday 5 March brings together five emerging artists—D. Tyrone, Mimmie, Reibang Chakma, Zoltan Fecso, and INHARMONICITY.
Next Wave is also partnering with Balam Balam Place, Blak Dot Gallery and Counihan Gallery for a event that journey’s through all four institutions on Saturday 8 March. Brunswick Mechanics Institute will host Speak Percussion for an iteration of ‘Percussion, Conversation, Degustation’—improvisational music and cross-artform performance that integrates elements of food, participatory discussion and live music.
More details to be announced in early 2025.

Next Wave Neighbours #2

Our next gathering of local artists, arts organisations, community and friends at Brunswick Mechanics Institute.
Wednesday 19 March, Brunswick Mechanics Institute
More details to be announced in early 2025

More to be announced 2025, including (but not limited to) events from Next Wave Young Artistic Directors MaggZ and Matisse, screenings from Composite, CAST workshops, a Super Divestment workshop by ACFA and our inaugural ‘Winter Windows Series’ and more.