Tomorrowland Foundation opens fourth Music & Arts School in South Africa

The Tomorrowland Foundation has officially opened its fourth Music & Arts School, marking a major milestone as the organization’s first creative education project on the African continent. The new facility launched in the Langrug community near Franschhoek in South Africa’s Western Cape, continuing the foundation’s global mission of empowering young people through music, dance, and the arts.

Created in partnership with the Langrug Community Centre (LCC), the school was designed as a dedicated creative hub where children and teenagers can learn, perform, and express themselves in a safe and inspiring environment. The initiative follows previous Tomorrowland Foundation schools established in Nepal, India, and Brazil, expanding the foundation’s long-term investment in creative education programs worldwide.

Located in one of the region’s growing informal settlements, the Langrug community faces ongoing social and economic challenges, including unemployment, poverty, and limited access to essential resources. Despite these difficulties, the area has become known for its resilience, creativity, and strong sense of community — qualities the Tomorrowland Foundation says played a major role in selecting the location for the project.

The new Music & Arts School spans more than 400 square meters across two floors and includes an outdoor terrace alongside fully equipped classrooms for music, dance, visual arts, reading, and other forms of creative expression. Built using modular construction, the facility was specifically designed to support long-term educational programs for local youth between the ages of 6 and 16.

Organizers confirmed that structured after-school programs will run daily, with the project aiming to eventually support up to 600 children and youngsters every day over the coming years. Lessons and workshops will be led by teachers, artists, and facilitators, with a strong emphasis on training and involving members of the Langrug community itself.

The Langrug Community Centre originally began in 2012 as a small soup kitchen before evolving into a broader community support network focused on education, food initiatives, employment assistance, and youth development. Until now, much of its focus had centered on early childhood development programs for children aged 1 to 5. The addition of the Music & Arts School now allows the organization to continue supporting children throughout later stages of their growth and education.

The project is supported by a dedicated local leadership team, including founder Janet Johnson and tour manager Nasiphi Notoza, alongside international ambassadors Kathleen Aerts and Steven van Hoof, who have helped raise awareness and long-term support for the initiative through their strong ties to South Africa and the broader Tomorrowland community.

Over the last decade, the Tomorrowland Foundation has increasingly expanded beyond festival culture into educational and humanitarian initiatives around the world. Through its Music & Arts Schools and outreach programs, the organization continues using music and creativity as tools to help vulnerable communities create opportunities for younger generations