In April, award-winning Mapuche-Chilean/Australian artist LENI travelled to Tongyeong to represent Adelaide at the Tongyeong International Music Fringe Festival, strengthening cultural connections between two UNESCO Cities of Music.
Facilitated by Adelaide City of Music and the Tongyeong International Music Foundation, the invitation reflects the growing importance of international exchange programs and opportunities across the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, which support South Australian artists to build global networks, develop new audiences, and share their stories on international stages.
For LENI and manager Tegan, the journey marked their first visit to South Korea and a chance to immerse themselves in a new creative and cultural environment.
“From the moment we landed, there was a real sense of calm — a peaceful, grounded energy that felt true of the South Korean culture,” LENI reflected.
Hosted in the coastal city of Tongyeong, the festival brought together artists from across the UNESCO Creative Cities Network to celebrate music’s ability to connect communities across language, geography and culture.
“We were met by our driver at the airport and made the journey from Busan to Tongyeong (about 1.5 hours), heading into this beautiful coastal fishing town.”
Throughout the visit, LENI described feeling welcomed by the local community and festival team.
“Straight away, we felt it — the warmth of the people. Even with the language barrier (and our very limited Korean), there was a genuine kindness and hospitality everywhere we went.”
A highlight of the trip was LENI’s headline outdoor performance at Tongyeong Square on the city’s waterfront, where audiences gathered to experience his powerful blend of Alt-R&B, folk, soul and hip hop.
“Friday night, I performed outdoors at Tongyeong Square, right on the water. I didn’t know what to expect and if people would connect with my music or not — but the town showed up in the best way. Passersby stopped, gathered, and became part of the moment. It turned into something really special.”
The performance became a reminder of music’s ability to transcend language and cultural difference.
“One of the highlights was performing my new song ‘SELF CONFIDENCE.’ Even though most of the crowd didn’t speak English, they still joined in, sang along, and connected with the feeling. It was a powerful reminder that music goes way beyond language.”
Beyond the performance itself, the festival created opportunities for connection and collaboration between artists from around the world. LENI described spontaneous conversations, shared performances and new friendships forming throughout the trip.
“A spontaneous breakfast turned into a friendship with Swedish artist Isabelle Kongshaug after we met her guitarist Jonas and manager at our hotel breakfast — a random but meant-to-be moment when we realised we were on the same page of the program too.”
The experience also highlighted the value of Adelaide’s UNESCO City of Music designation and the role that this unique international platform can play in supporting South Australian artists to access meaningful cultural exchange opportunities. Programs like the Tongyeong International Music Fringe Festival provide pathways for artists to build confidence, develop professional networks and share Adelaide’s diverse music culture with new audiences around the world.
Reflecting on the experience, LENI described the trip as creatively energising and deeply memorable.
“It was a short trip, but one full of connection, new friendships, cups of tea and inspiration.”
“A big thank you to UNESCO Adelaide City of Music, Joe, Nexus Arts, and the entire TIMF team for making this experience possible and so memorable.”
As Adelaide continues to strengthen relationships across the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, opportunities like this help foster international collaboration while amplifying the voices of South Australian artists on the global stage.