South African Creatives Head to Norway for First SA-NOR Festival Exchange Programme
From the vibrant streets of Johannesburg’s Alexandra to the mist‑clad fjords of western Norway, two South African musicians and sound engineers are poised to bring fresh energy to two of Scandinavia’s most respected festivals.
Thato Lehlohonolo Mashigo and Itumeleng Fortune Mdluli will leave South Africa next month for a four‑week immersion in Norwegian festival production, a journey organised by the Johannesburg‑based AURI Foundation in partnership with Kulturkontoret. The initiative, called NORSAK, will have the fellows work behind the scenes at Tysnesfest on the island of Tysnes and at Utkant Festival in Voss, learning every step of the event‑making process—from initial set‑up to final teardown.
Launched during Youth Month, NORSAK is designed to broaden diversity in the music and entertainment industry by opening international doors for young people, women and creatives from disadvantaged communities. Throughout the programme, Mashigo and Mdluli will chronicle their first trip outside South Africa on social media, sharing both the technical skills they acquire and the personal stories that accompany the experience. The exchange aims to prove how cross‑border collaboration can carve sustainable pathways into the creative economy.
Founded in 2026, the AURI Foundation is a Johannesburg‑based non‑profit that supports emerging musicians, sound engineers and event organisers through fellowships, technical training, mentorship and creative entrepreneurship. By pairing skills development with access to professional equipment, creative spaces and industry networks, the foundation seeks to build long‑term careers for South African creatives. NORSAK marks its first international programme.
Kulturkontoret, the Norwegian partner, specialises in creating sustainable events of all sizes and in raising competence among festival professionals. The partnership gives AURI Fellows exposure to the practical realities of festival production in a different cultural context while offering Norwegian organisers fresh perspectives drawn from the South African music scene.
Tysnesfest, a well‑known regional festival on the island of Tysnes, showcases a mix of local and international acts across multiple stages. Utkant Festival, located in the municipality of Voss, focuses on experimental and contemporary music and provides a platform for emerging artists. Both festivals offer a comprehensive learning environment, where Mashigo and Mdluli will work on stage rigging, sound reinforcement, lighting, artist liaison and post‑event logistics.
The programme’s structure guarantees hands‑on experience in all aspects of festival operations. Fellows will shadow senior production staff, attend planning meetings and take part in the day‑to‑day tasks that keep a festival running smoothly. By the end of the four weeks, Mashigo and Mdluli are expected to have a solid grasp of the technical and organisational demands of large‑scale live events.
The initiative also reflects broader industry trends that emphasize diversity, inclusion and international collaboration. By sending South African creatives to Norway, the AURI Foundation is building a network that could facilitate future exchanges, joint projects and knowledge transfer between the two regions. The programme’s emphasis on social‑media documentation mirrors the growing importance of digital storytelling in promoting careers and building personal brands within the creative economy.
While still in its early stages, the partnership between AURI Foundation and Kulturkontoret is already sparking interest among festival organisers and music industry stakeholders in both countries. The experience gained by Mashigo and Mdluli will likely inform future iterations of the programme, potentially expanding to include additional festivals or extending the duration of the exchange.
In short, NORSAK represents a tangible step toward fostering international collaboration and diversity in the music and entertainment sectors. The four‑week programme will equip two South African creatives with practical skills in festival production, while providing Norwegian festivals with fresh talent and new perspectives. Industry professionals in both regions will watch the outcomes closely as a model of cross‑cultural partnership and talent development.
