Alexandra youth selected for historic South Africa–Norway music industry exchange

Two emerging music industry professionals from Alexandra, South Africa, have been selected for the inaugural NORSAK festival exchange program in Norway. This four-week initiative, a partnership between the Johannesburg-based AURI Foundation and Norway’s Kulturkontoret, provides hands-on experience in event production and sound engineering at major international festivals. The program represents a significant step in fostering international collaboration and creating sustainable career pathways for creatives from disadvantaged communities within the global music economy.

The NORSAK exchange program marks the first-ever festival partnership between South Africa and Norway, specifically designed to equip young creatives with practical technical skills. Fellows Thato Lehlohonolo Mashigo and Itumeleng Fortune Mdluli will travel to Norway next month to work behind the scenes at two major events: Tysnesfest and Utkant Festival. Their training will cover the entire lifecycle of festival production, ranging from initial stage setup to final teardown, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of large-scale event logistics and sound engineering.

Launched during South Africa's Youth Month, the initiative is spearheaded by the AURI Foundation in collaboration with the Norwegian cultural organization Kulturkontoret. The program's primary objective is to address diversity gaps within the music and entertainment sectors by providing international exposure to women and individuals from historically disadvantaged backgrounds. By documenting their experiences on social media, the participants aim to showcase the technical expertise they acquire and highlight how cross-border partnerships can facilitate entry into the professional creative economy.

The AURI Foundation, established in 2026 as a Johannesburg-based non-profit, focuses on building sustainable careers through technical training, mentorship, and access to professional equipment. This exchange represents the foundation's first international venture, expanding its mission to support musicians and event organizers beyond local borders. By integrating skills development with global industry networks, the NORSAK program seeks to empower a new generation of South African professionals to compete on an international stage and strengthen the technical infrastructure of the domestic music industry.