Next Wave Festival Incorporated

What Next Wave Festival Incorporated does

Next Wave Festival Incorporated is an Australian not-for-profit arts organization established in 1984 and headquartered at the Brunswick Mechanics Institute in Naarm/Melbourne, Victoria. Its core function is supporting early-career artists through an integrated portfolio of programs: Kickstart (an 18-month flagship mentorship offering time, relationships, mentoring, and creative freedom), All School (an artist-led learning platform prioritizing process over product), TIDAL (a major commissioning program positioning art as public space), Around the Block (an outdoor moving-image exhibition), Composite (an artist-run moving image agency in residence), Countercurrents (public art commissioning with Moreland/Merri-bek City Council), and the forthcoming Swell program (supporting emerging curators and producers). The organization operates a decentralised Artistic Directorate leadership model that extends curatorial reach nationally through rotating cohorts of mid-career and established artists, with a complementary Young Artistic Directorate developed under the A Rising Tide leadership program in partnership with VicHealth.

The business model is a hybrid non-profit funding stack. Recurring revenue and operating support flow from institutional partners including Merri-bek City Council (home venue), City of Melbourne (TIDAL), VicHealth (Producers in Residence, A Rising Tide), and Australia Council for the Arts. Next Wave also operates venue hire at Brunswick Mechanics Institute, offering reduced community rates to artists and cultural organisations and full commercial rates to corporate hirers — with the commercial segment explicitly subsidising the reduced-rate provision. Donations are solicited via the website. Audience reach is generated through curated events, exhibitions, performances, workshops, and a Composite Radio online broadcast.

The organization transitioned in 2021 from a 36-year biennial festival model to a year-round programming model following the 2020 COVID-19 cancellation. It is governed by a Board of Directors and led by CEO Elyse Goldfinch, supported by a small staff team (estimated 5–15) including a Venue Operations Manager, Associate Producer, Communications Manager, and external accountant. Next Wave markets through its website, email newsletter, social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram), and third-party ticketing platforms (Humanitix, TryBooking, Eventbrite), with a stated commitment to cultural safety, First Nations self-determination, and accessible programming (including Auslan interpretation and step-free venue access).

Name

Next Wave Festival Incorporated

Legal name

Next Wave Festival Incorporated

Website

https://nextwave.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Next Wave Festival Incorporated is an Australian not-for-profit arts organization founded in 1984 that supports early-career artists through mentorship programs (Kickstart, All School), commissioning initiatives (TIDAL, Countercurrents), public exhibitions, and affordable venue hire from its Brunswick Mechanics Institute home in Naarm/Melbourne.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts & Culture Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Other Performing Arts Companies (71119)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts & Culture Community Festivals (Multidisciplinary Arts Weeks) (MPAGAEAG)

Keywords

• Artist mentorship programs
• Early-career artist development
• Creative venue hire
• Public art commissioning
• Arts festival programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Brunswick

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Venue hire revenue: Studio and theatre hire at Brunswick Mechanics Institute offered at reduced community rates for artists and affordable rates for cultural organisations, with higher commercial rates for corporate hires. Revenue supports mentorship programs and artist-led workshops.
2. Government funding and grants: Operating support from Merri-bek City Council and other government bodies for venue operations and artistic programming.
3. Donations and philanthropy: Donation page available on website for public support of the organisation's mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Next Wave Festival Incorporated is a not-for-profit arts organization that supports early-career artists through mentorship programs, public arts events, and affordable creative venue hire. It operates Brunswick Mechanics Institute as its home base, delivering year-round programming including the Kickstart mentorship program, All School learning platform, TIDAL commissioning program, and various exhibitions and performances.

Product overview

Next Wave Festival Incorporated is a not-for-profit arts organization that operates as a platform-plus-program architecture, providing year-round support for early-career artists through multiple interconnected programs. The core offerings include Kickstart (flagship 18-month mentorship), All School (artist-led learning), TIDAL (commissioning program), Composite (moving image agency in residence), and Around the Block (outdoor exhibition), all delivered from their home at Brunswick Mechanics Institute. The organization also operates venue hire services and previously ran biennial festivals (1984-2020) and the Radical Hospitality program (2022-2024). The portfolio is designed to support artists at critical career stages through mentorships, creative development, public programs, and industry pathways.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kickstart Next Wave's flagship mentorship program for early-career artists, offering 18 months of time, relationships, mentoring, and freedom to test, fail, play and dream. Targeted at early-career artists working across multiple art forms.
• All School Next Wave's artist-led learning platform focused on prioritizing process over product, facilitating intergenerational knowledge sharing and creative exchange. Targeted at artists and the broader arts community.
• TIDAL A major commissioning program responding to the provocation of 'art as public space,' fostering collaboration between mid-career practitioners through long-form research and artist-led interventions into civic infrastructure. Supported by City of Melbourne Arts and Creative Investment Program.
• Around the Block An outdoor exhibition of moving image works unfolding across Brunswick's artistic precinct, featuring works by emerging artists at various local galleries. Targeted at general public and arts audiences.
• Composite (Artist-Run Initiative in Residence) Artist-run initiative in residence at Next Wave, functioning as a Moving Image Agency and Media Bank supporting artists' moving image practices through exhibition, research, education and distribution. Targeted at moving image artists and audiences.
• Countercurrents A public art commissioning partnership between Next Wave and Moreland City Council supporting site-specific and community-based public art projects at Brunswick Mechanics Institute. Targeted at artists and the broader community.
• Swell A new initiative launching late 2026 supporting emerging curators and producers to create collaborative presentations showcasing recent graduates from art institutions. Targeted at emerging curators, producers, and recent graduates.
• Brunswick Mechanics Institute Venue Hire Next Wave's home venue offering studio and theatre spaces for hire by artists, creative practitioners, and cultural organisations at reduced or affordable community rates, with commercial rates for larger organisations. Revenue supports mentorship programs and artist-led workshops.

Quantifiable outcome

• 600+ artists supported per festival cycle
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Emerging Writers' FestivalmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Partnership for Emerging Writers Festival Masterclass including digital writing masterclass on authorship, algorithms and access in the digital commons.
• Merri-bek City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMerri-bek City Council (formerly Moreland City Council) supports Next Wave's operation of Brunswick Mechanics Institute. This is a key partnership enabling the organisation's home base and venue operations. Council also partners on Countercurrents public art program.
• VicHealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVicHealth supports Producers in Residence and Creative Leadership programs through Future Healthy initiatives, and A Rising Tide leadership program. Focus on amplifying voices and ideas of young Victorians in arts and cultural experiences.
• BlindsidemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlindside partnered with Next Wave to deliver the 2025 Emerging Curator Mentorship program, selecting emerging curator to be mentored by Next Wave CEO Elyse Goldfinch.
• Moreland City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCountercurrents was a public art commissioning partnership between Next Wave and Moreland City Council, supporting site-specific and community-based public art projects.
• Mission to SeafarersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTIDAL and Radical Hospitality exhibitions held at Mission to Seafarers venue in Docklands, including Submersible Supper Club collaboration.
• City of MelbournecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Melbourne supports TIDAL major commissioning program through Arts and Creative Investment Program. Also supported Swell program.
• Composite (Moving Image Agency & Media Bank)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorComposite is an Artist-Run Initiative in residence at Next Wave, dedicated to supporting artists' moving image practices through exhibition, research, education and distribution.
• Platform ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Industry Discovery Day and Radical Hospitality: Platforming Community events.
• Liquid ArchitectureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Poly-rhythmic events and Safe in Sound festival celebrating experimental music.
• Speak PercussionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Tidelines, Coexistence, and other percussion/experimental music programming.
• Centre for Projection ArtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in TIDAL & Radical Hospitality programming.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Australian Experimental Art Foundation (Adelaide): South Australian artist-run organisation supporting experimental contemporary art practice. Direct peer as a small, non-profit experimental arts organisation supporting early-career and established artists.
• Performance Space (Sydney): National platform for experimental and live art practice in Sydney (Carriageworks), with a LiveWorks festival and development programs. Closely comparable as an experimental performing arts organisation supporting early-career and established experimental artists.
• Arts House (Melbourne): City of Melbourne-presented contemporary arts venue in Melbourne's inner north supporting experimental, multi-artform practice and artist development. Directly comparable as a municipally-supported venue focused on emerging and experimental artists.
• Melbourne Fringe Festival: Annual independent arts festival in Melbourne supporting emerging and independent artists across multiple artforms. Direct peer sharing Next Wave's historical biennial festival model and emerging-artist focus.
• Platform Arts (Geelong): Regional Victorian contemporary arts organisation supporting emerging artists and community-led programming. Direct peer in scale and mission; also a current Next Wave programming partner.
• Firstdraft (Sydney): Artist-run organisation in Sydney supporting emerging artists through exhibitions, residencies and mentorship. Direct peer in the emerging-artist development space, and notably where Next Wave CEO Elyse Goldfinch was previously Co-Chair.
• Dancehouse (Melbourne): Melbourne-based centre for independent dance supporting experimental dance artists. Direct peer in scale and mission; also a current Next Wave programming partner.

Broad incumbents

• Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA): Major Melbourne contemporary art institution presenting exhibitions by established and mid-career Australian and international artists. Comparable as a Melbourne-based contemporary arts presenter where CEO Elyse Goldfinch previously served as Curator.
• Malthouse Theatre (Melbourne): Major Melbourne performing arts venue focused on contemporary theatre, dance and live art. Comparable as a Melbourne-based presenting organisation with a focus on experimental contemporary practice, though at significantly larger scale and with a single discipline focus.
• Carriageworks (Sydney): Major multi-arts centre in Sydney presenting contemporary art, performance and music. Comparable as a multi-arts presenting organisation with a focus on experimental and emerging practice, though at significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/next_wave
• Facebookfacebook.com/NextWaveArts
• Instagraminstagram.com/next_wave
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/next-wave-arts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Next Wave Festival Incorporated