Last Tuesday we gathered with artists, peers, and community to raise a glass to the 2023 Program ⎯ celebrating a jam-packed year of activity in Brunswick and across the continent. There are offerings from our Kickstart cohort across the Nullabor, presentations from the 2020 Festival, new partnerships locally and nationally, community-centered outcomes from our Producers in Residence, and a rich program from across our cohorts.

We hope you’ll come along on the journey.

Need a refresher of what’s in store?

Next Wave’s 2023 Program
Burial – Kickstart artists Devika Bilimoria and Amias Hanley, VIC (February)
This event has passed.
Learn more

Twiddle, Fiddle and Tune – Kickstart artist Prue Stevenson, VIC (Febuary)
This event has passed.
Learn more about Prue Stevenson

Cthuluscene - Megan Beckwith (March)
On display now - 31 Mar, Brunswick Mechanics
Artist Talk - Sat 25 Mar, 6pm-8pm, Brunswick Mechanics
Presented with our friends at the Centre for Projection Art as part of FRAME – a festival of dance happening over March across Melbourne, Castlemaine, and out in Bunjil Place - this screen-based work is on display on the Sydney Road side of the building. This screenwork will be accompanied by Body-Cites: Conversation Series #2. Join Professor Carol Brown in conversation with artists Megan Beckwith and Wendy Yu at Brunswick Mechanics on Sat 25 Mar.
Learn more

Radical Hospitality: Kain Na Tayo curated by Saluhan (March)
Sat 11 Mar, 2pm-10pm, Brunswick Mechanics
Another in our series of food-focused gatherings, this time curated by our friends Saluhan, in conjunction with theatre-makers David Finnigan, Ness Roque, and Reuben Ingall as they present the development of their 2023 residency project, ‘You’re Safe’. This event also includes offerings for families with workshops and food with Aida Azin alongside Charlotte and Alfred Nicdao and DJs at the end of the night. Join us for this 8-hour event together with artists, chefs, musicians, and storytellers through a series of installations and performances, illustrating the ingenuity of Filipino food culture.
Learn more

Anvár - Kickstart artist Elham Eshraghian, WA (March)
Fri 24 Mar, 7pm-9pm Yagan Tower, Boorloo Perth
Kickstart artist Elham has been working with her community from the Baha’i faith this past year on Anvar. A community arts project exploring the Seven Valleys by Baha’u’llah - This first development showing is a result of a series of workshops in response to the first valley – the valley of search – drawing on themes of place and spiritual identity found in Boorloo.
The Digital Tower, Yagan Square in Perth.
Learn more

Dead ends and Detours - Bruno Booth, WA (March)
Fri 17 - Sun 19 Mar, 10am-5pm, PICA, Poorloo Perth
Originally commissioned for Next Wave Festival 2020
Take a sly-octane, wheelchair ride with Bruno Booth in Dead Ends and Detours an interactive outdoor installation meets obstacle course. Commissioned by PICA and Next Wave and supported by PICA’s Art Commissioners and the WA Government through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and its Theatre Development Initiative.
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All School Artist led-learning by Next Wave, VIC/ACT/Online (April)
From April onwards – a suite of IRL and online offerings on our All School platform; think interstate crit clubs, experimental essays, masterclasses and artists exchanges. All School is supported by Helen McPherson Smith Trust, Creative Partnerships Australia, the Besen Family Foundation and Deakin University.
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TIDAL – Aaron Claringbold, Eliki Reade, Jack Mitchell and Rebecca McCauley, VIC (May)
Through their bodies of work and joint research – TIDAL artists Aaron, Eliki, Jack and Rebecca share an exhibition in Melbourne in May. Catch up on their thinking with their co-written essay on the All School website. TIDAL is generously supported through the City of Melbourne’s Arts and Creative Investment Program.
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Producers in Residence - Leigh Lule, Tarryn Love and MaggZ Zhu (June)
Our producers in Residence arrive at the tail end of their year of research and professional development with Next Wave – leading 3 solo projects that continue to platform their community spanning First Nations leadership, matriarchal practices, street dance, battles, film, and storytelling in this series of outcomes throughout June.
Learn more

Under my Tongue – Belinda Locke, VIC (July)
Presented as part of Disability Pride Month and originally commissioned for Next Wave Festival 2020
Over the last 2 years, Belinda has extended on her Next Wave Festival 2020 work – and curated a wraparound of conversations and participatory experiences to activate Brunswick Mechanics during Disability Pride Month – challenging audiences to consider more deeply into the (in)visibility of disability. Under My Tongue is supported by Besen Family Foundation, Robert Salzer Foundation, Merri-Bek City Council, Auspicious Arts Projects, Creative Partnerships Australia through the Australian Cultural Fund and Creative Victoria through Regional Arts Victoria.
Learn more about Belinda Locke

VicHealth’s Future Healthy and Move The Dial program
Next Wave continues co-designing future programming with young people, building on our partnership with VicHealth. This year we welcome activations in the second half of 2023 and all through 2024. Building on Next Wave’s legacy of working with young people, these programs weave together our history and future and enable intergenerational exchange across people, key programs and community.

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A big thanks to our hospitality partners Noisy Ritual Urban Winery (thanks Cam and team) for the delicious wine and to our friends and long-term collaborators Mountain Goat.