We’re with you, TNA

Next Wave supports Theatre Network Australia’s call for new models and systems that are conducive not only to making art, but ones that sustain the lives of independent artists and creatives.

Theatre Network Australia’s latest This is how we do it report highlights challenges faced by emerging creative practitioners in 2024 and beyond.

In this report, those who identified as ‘emerging’ were aged 18–49 and, on average, had been practising for around six years.

Compared to their mid-career and established peers, emerging creatives are:

• Least likely to get paid superannuation and most likely to be unclear about super entitlements.
• Most likely to be managing health and mental health issues.

Only 6% of emerging creatives were able to earn an income solely from creative work–down from 15% in 2022 and 22% in 2020.

Since 1984, Next Wave has played a pivotal role in supporting early-career practitioners working across multiple art forms. Early-career practitioners need support and pathways—now, more than ever.

While our refreshed Strategic Plan outlines how Next Wave will continue to support early-career artists, like Theatre Network Australia, we also recognise the sector-wide efforts required for independent artists and creatives to thrive.

Next Wave looks forward to extending our work with our industry partners and sector stakeholders to collectively build the sustained capacity of early-career practitioners.