Kickstart

Kickstart is Next Wave’s flagship artist development program, offering an 18-month journey for early-career artists. It provides tailored mentorship, resources, and space for early-career artists to develop ambitious new works that will be presented at Next Wave at the end of the program. The program invests in
professional development, intergenerational support and pathways, culminating in presentation opportunities at Next Wave, and other peer organisations.

Since 2001, Kickstart has supported hundreds of artists, including some of Australia’s most vital and celebrated contemporary artists and curators including Katie West, Abdul Abdullah, Shireen Taweel, Megan Cope, James Nguyen, Zoë Coombs Marr, Loren Kronemyer, Kartanya Maynard, Pip Wallis, Ryan Presley, Daniel Jenatsch, and many more. I

In 2024, the program welcomed seven individual artists and one collective.

Kickstart reflects Next Wave’s ongoing commitment to collaboration, experimentation, and nurturing the next generation of cultural leaders.

2026-27 Kickstart program

In 2026–27, Next Wave’s flagship Kickstart program will focus on nurturing early-career artists from across Victoria, offering deep, sustained support to develop and present bold new work. This reimagined iteration shifts from a national model to a locally focused program, centring Victorian-based and locally responsive practices, and revitalising the festival spirit within our year-round activities.

An open call (scheduled for January 2026) will invite artists to pitch an original work for development and presentation in September 2027 – offering a significant opportunity to showcase their practice to audiences, industry, and local communities. Works will be selected with support from our Arts Advisory, ensuring diverse perspectives and practices are championed.

Across the 18-month program, artists will benefit from regular in-person gatherings, a tailored mentorship framework, and the dedicated support of an Associate Producer who will guide the delivery of the program from concept to presentation. Brunswick Mechanics Institute will serve as the program’s creative home and testing ground—hosting gatherings, creative developments, crit-sessions, peer exchange, and public showings throughout the year.

We’re currently seeking support for our Kickstart program. 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.

Learn more and make a donation

Kickstart 2021-23

Our inaugural Artistic Directorate and their Kickstart artists wrapped up with Next Wave in 2023.
See the 2021 Cohort →

Above:
  1. Sophie Dumaresq, Beached as bro… (I love you), Kickstart, 2025, Next Wave, Narrm/Melbourne. Courtesy the artist. Photo: Mae Hartrick.

  2. An.Other Collective, Fieldnotes on Being, Together, Kickstart, 2025, Next Wave, Narrm/Melbourne. Courtesy the artist. Photo: Mae Hartrick.

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

  4. ‘Burial’ by Amias Hanley, photo by Renee Stamatis, 2023

  5. ‘Anvár’ by Elham Eshraghian-Haakansson, 2023

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  7. ‘Fiddle, Twiddle & Tune’ by Prue Stevenson, photo by Pia Jonson, 2023