Next Wave — Brunswick Mechanics Institute
Hosted by Next Wave
SpacetoCo Host since November 2024Next Wave is a leading not-for-profit arts organisation that, since 1984, has played a pivotal role in supporting early-career practitioners working across multiple art forms. Next Wave creates spaces for connection, experimentation and investment—through mentorship programs, public programs and venue hire—from our home at Brunswick Mechanics Institute and across Victoria.
Areas in this space (2)
This space contains 2 different areas that can be booked independently.
Next Wave — Brunswick Mechanics Institute
The below areas are bookable for this space.
About this space
We are Next Wave, and Brunswick Mechanics Institute is our home — a former lending library and now multipurpose arts venue located in Merri-bek City Council.
We offer flexible and affordable venue hire options for artists, creative practitioners and cultural organisations looking for space to experiment, play and collaborate.
What can you use the space for?
Brunswick Mechanics Institute is available for hire for:
Creative development activities that support testing, development and experimentation including activities that showcase the creative development process. This encompasses creative developments, rehearsals, workshops, filming, artist talks, work in progress showings, script development, auditions, research and development and small artist-led events.
Community arts initiatives (such as public programs that support professional development for, and skill exchange between, creative practitioners).
When you book venue hire with Next Wave, you help us continue to support early career artists through our mentorship programs and deliver artist-led workshops, events and activities.
Brunswick Mechanics Institute is managed by Next Wave with the support of Merri-bek City Council. We aim to prioritise hires for local early career creative practitioners, arts organisations, and Merri-bek's human rights priority groups.
Learn more about our hire scope.
Download a .docx file of our venue scope
About the venue
Our building consists of two seperate bookable spaces, our Studio and Theatre space. The building is also equipped with a bar/kitchenette area and is a wheelchair accessible venue, with an accessible bathroom. The venue operates all on one level. There are no stairs, steps or lifts within the building, however flooring can be uneven in places.
About our rates
The prices shown on SpacetoCo are our reduced rate and include GST.
Long-hire discounts are available for bookings of over a week. To make these bookings, you’ll need to apply to become a regular (verified) hirer.
We have some capacity to support hires from larger organisations and corporate/commericial hires, which incur an additional fee (full rate).
Full-rate hires not only help us continue to support early career creative practitioners, they also helps us continue to provide venue hire at a reduced rate (and sometimes in-kind) for those who need it.
Download our 2025 venue hire rate card.
Download a .docx file of our 2025 venue hire rate card.
Additional tech
Both our spaces come with a standard set-up. Additional equipment is available upon request and only permitted via the hire of a qualified Next Wave casual technician at an extra cost. Below is a link to our Tech Specs document with details of equipment available and casual tech staff rates.
Download our 2025 Tech Specs PDF
Download a .docx file of our 2025 Tech Specs
Public events
All public events require the use of a Next Wave casual front of house staff member at an additional cost based on the length and nature of your event.
Next Wave has a bar, which you can choose to have open for your event. Due to liquor licensing laws, it is a requirement that the bar is run by a Next Wave casual bar attendant, this can be staffed by us at an additional cost. There is no BYO alcohol permitted on site.
Staffing
Next Wave has a team of casual staff across front of house, bar and tech which you can choose to hire at an additional cost. Some staffing is a requirement depending on the nature of your booking.
Monday - Saturday casual staff rates:
FOH & Bar - $40/hr (3hr minimum)
Tech - $45/hr (3hr minimum)
Sunday & Public Holiday casual staff rates:
FOH & Bar - $70/hr (4hr minimum)
Tech - $80/hr (4hr minimum)
Acknowledgement
From the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Eastern Kulin Nations, Next Wave is privileged to traverse the land and waterways of this continent of many nations – to share in the act of art making and culture building – grounded on justice, friendship and care. This always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.
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Photography credits: Tallulah, Mae Hartrick, Anne Moffatt, Wild Hardt.
Booking schedule
Amenities
Suitable for
Location
270 Sydney Road, Brunswick VIC, Australia
Opening times
Monday
9:00am - 10:00pm
Tuesday
9:00am - 10:00pm
Wednesday
9:00am - 10:00pm
Thursday
9:00am - 10:00pm
Friday
9:00am - 10:00pm
Saturday
9:00am - 10:00pm
Sunday
9:00am - 10:00pm
Rules
All hirers must have public liability insurance.
All hirers must complete an online safety induction portal and in-person venue induction before the commencement of your hire.
Anything borrowed from Next Wave must be returned to where you found it.
No BYO alcohol at any time. You will be asked to leave promptly if alcohol is brought onsite.
Next Wave and Brunswick Mechanics Institute is a non-smoking site at all times.
- Clear paths to doorways, toilets and fire escapes must be left at all times.
- Brunswick Mechanics Institute is a shared space. Please leave spaces as you wish to find them.
- Lock doors and alarm building if last person on-site. If the building is not alarmed, a security call-out fee will be charged.
