Announcing the eight mid-career and established artists who will guide Next Wave’s programming as our incoming Artistic Directorate in 2024-25.

For almost 40 years, Next Wave has been driven by experimental leadership and next year 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 incoming Artistic Directorate:

• Bruno Booth (WA)
• Libby Harward (QLD)
• Lucy Bleach (TAS)
• Marian Abboud (NSW)
• Rosealee Pearson (NT)
• Sally Golding (ACT)
• Yuhui Ng-Rodriguez (VIC)
• Yusuf Hayat (SA)

Read more about them here.

Aligned 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.

About the Artistic Directorate model:

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.

What’s next?

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!