The composing community in the tertiary education sector is geographically dispersed throughout South Africa with large distances separating the various groups of composers in academia – at times these creators of new music display very diverse approaches, philosophies and ideologies towards the composing of new music. The Composer’s National Collegium create new opportunities by bringing together composers who are dedicated to the advancement of music in South Africa in a unified and reconciliatory way.

The NIHSS recently supported the Social Life of Waste art’s public conversation, workshop and exhibition. Headed by Dr. Detlev Krige, The Social Life of Waste/Art (SLOWart) network is a collection of artists, writers, facilitators, gardeners and researchers based in southern Africa who work on/with/around and in waste/trash/garbage/discarded material.