Next Wave

​​Next Wave celebrated 40 years of supporting early-career artists in May 2024. Best known as a dynamic hub for bold, collaborative, and experimental art, Next Wave marked its 40th anniversary with the All School Lab, a program of artist-led talks, performances and activities encompassing the theme of Past, Present and Future, culminating with a party curated by the Young Artistic Directorate.

The All School LAB united artists from previous festivals with its current national Artistic Directorate and Kickstart cohort to reflect on its 40-year history and dream up possible futures.

Next Wave’s 40th anniversary marks the organisation’s evolution from its festival-centric model in 2021, now standing as a vital engine room for art making and experimentation, reflecting the zeitgeist of our times. Since its inception in 1984, Next Wave has supported more than 7,000 artists and arts workers and is currently supporting seven individual artists and one collective nationally through Kickstart, a long-form residential program that prioritises time and relationships, supporting artists to dream and make art within their context and communities.

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