2025 Blindside x Next Wave Emerging Curator Mentorship
Applications are now open for the annual Emerging Curator Mentorship!
Applications due midnight June 9th 2025.
Click here to apply.
Through this exciting initiative the successful emerging curator will curate a performance program to be developed and presented by Blindside, in collaboration with Next Wave, through mentorship from Next Wave CEO Elyse Goldfinch.
This is a professional development opportunity for an emerging curator to increase their logistical, technical and conceptual skills, while building their professional creative networks. Through this mentorship the successful applicant will facilitate opportunities for up to three performance-based* artists, to be delivered in partnership by Blindside and Next Wave.
If you have any questions regarding this opportunity please email Blindside Community Coordinator Josephine Mead: community@blindside.org.au
With the support of Blindside and the mentor, the successful applicant will:
1) Develop a call out and curatorial rationale; and select up to three performance-based artists
2) Facilitate a development period at Blindside, for selected artists to create new work in November / December 2025. This will include the development of public-program/s.
3) Support selected artists to deliver a public presentation at Next Wave HQ (Brunswick Mechanic Institute) in late February 2026) Produce a text to accompany this presentation
5) Have regular check-ins with the mentor and liaison between artists, Blindside and Next Wave
The successful applicant will receive:
* Direct mentoring / professional development from Next Wave CEO / curator Elyse Goldfinch (5 online/in-person sessions)
* Support with budget development and project management
* Marketing and promotional support from Blindside and Next Wave
* Project support in form of venue, online platforms and exhibition budget for artist-fees
* Support with grant applications
* Onsite technical assistance during development period at Blindside and showing period at Next Wave
* Rehearsal time at Next Wave HQ prior to event
* Staff to invigilate during performance / public-program periods
* The Emerging Curator will receive a curatorial fee
MENTOR:
Elyse Goldfinch is a curator and writer living and working in Naarm/Melbourne. She is currently CEO at Next Wave, a leading not-for-profit arts organisation that plays a pivotal role in supporting early-career artists working across multiple art forms.Most recently Elyse was Curator at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art where her curatorial projects included Tina Stefanou: You Can’t See Speed (2025), Tennant Creek Brio: Juparnta Ngattu Minjinypa Iconocrisis (2024), From the other side (2023-24), and Lucy Guerin: NEWRETRO (2023). Previously, Elyse was co-Chair, Firstdraft; Associate Curator, Artspace Sydney; part of the Curatorial Team, Australian Pavilion at the 59th La Biennale di Venezia; and Coordinator for Contemporary Arts Organisations Australia. Elyse has published widely on contemporary art for Ocula, Art & Australia, un Magazine and Art Collector, as well as written and edited print publications for institutions including National Gallery of Australia, Artspace, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, and Manly Art Gallery & Museum.
PARTNER ORGANISATION:
Next Wave’s vision is a world shaped by artists. Next Wave is a leading not-for-profit arts organisation dedicated to supporting early-career artists working across multiple art forms. Next Wave plays a defining role in the Australian arts landscape by empowering and advocating for early-career and experimental artistic practice in Australia. Through mentorships, creative developments, public programs, events, live performances and partnerships, Next Wave creates spaces for gathering and exchange, ambition and experimentation, and meaningful community connections. Established in 1984 as a biennial Festival, Next Wave now runs a year-long program from our home at Brunswick Mechanics Institute, in Naarm/Melbourne. As Next Wave continues to evolve in response to the changing nature of artist and sector needs, its commitment to investing in and nurturing artists at the most critical stage of their career remains constant. Next Wave’s program enables artists and audiences to test ideas and push boundaries that embrace new perspectives, challenge our thinking and platform the next generation of cultural leaders.
Key dates:
Applications for Emerging Curator Mentorship open: May 19th 2025
Application for ECM close: June 9th 2025, midnight
Mentor session #1: Friday 4th July 2025 10.00am
Open Call for artists opens: July 21st 2025
Open Call for artists closes: 11th August 2025
Development period at Blindside: Monday December 8th - Sunday December 21st 2025
Presentation at Next Wave (including additional rehearsal period): Late February 2026, dates TBC
PROGRAM DETAILS:
Call Out:
As the successful ECM applicant you will work with Elyse Goldfinch to create a Call Out for three artists from performance based practices. In your project proposal we will ask you to outline a curatorial framework for this Call Out. ( i.e. set a curatorial theme for the project to respond to). This Call Out will be for artists working with performance in diverse ways, and may include live-art, dance, sound, spoken-word, etc (see definitions below for further details). Alongside selected Next Wave staff and Blindside Artistic Directors, you will nominate three successful artists from this call out.
Development period:
From November 24th - Sunday 21st December 2025 the three successful artists will have full access to Blindside to develop new work. You will facilitate this period, connecting with the artists throughout the development period and assisting with the facilitation of relaxed public programs during this time. This may include in-progress showings, artist talks etc. The work that is developed during this period will be presented at Next Wave in 2026.
Showing at Next Wave:
In late February 2025 the selected three artists will present a program of performance at Next Wave, following the development of the work at Blindside. You will curate this event and facilitate a short rehearsal period, with support from Next Wave staff.
Application requirements:
Please apply through the online form.
You will be asked to provide:
- A short bio (max. 150 words)
- A working title for your project
- A short description of your curatorial idea for the program (max. 200 words, this can be further developed during the mentorship period)
- Suggestions for potential public programs that could take place during development period at Blindside (these will likely change according to which artists you select)
- 1 page CV
- Support Material to show successful past projects (max 10 images OR max 10 minutes video/audio). Support Material to be supplied through accessible drop box link.
Assessment Process:
Applications will be assessed by Next Wave staff and Blindside Artistic Directors following the proposal period. We will provide a response as to whether your application was successful.
Please note due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to provide feedback on applications.
Accessibility:
If you need assistance with the applications process, or alternative application possibilities due to access needs, please reach out to our Community Coordinator - Josephine Mead: community@blindside.org.au
Definitions:
*We are taking a broad approach to ‘performance-based’ practice. This could be someone who works in the mediums of dance, choreography, sound, music, writing, poetry, cooking, etc. A focus will be towards supporting experimental or community-led methodologies, and projects that take place live.
Click here to apply before June 9.