In Arctic Sounds Academy, Sara and Maalia claim their place in an industry filled with men.

Insistent applause, enthusiastic shouts and stomping on the floor in appreciation.

On March 8th in Katuaq in Nuuk, there was a standing ovation for the team of women behind the Arnaq concert, which was held for the second year in a row on the occasion of International Women's Day.

For the first time, it was a team that consisted exclusively of women and gender minorities, as the technicians backstage were also women.

- I feel that technicians are often forgotten, so I was really happy that we could be there – also to show that we can, just like men can, says 21-year-old Sara Andersen, who was one of the young lighting technicians.

During one of the performances, the hall and stage were shrouded in darkness, except for the spotlight on the lead singer, who was singing a song about light. There is a light, it was called.

Behind her a delicate whitish light floated across the backdrop.

- It was my design! Sara Andersen exclaims.

Together with a handful of other young people, she is part of the Arctic Sounds Academy – an academy that originated from the Sisimiut music festival Arctic Sounds Festival, and which aims to get more of the country's women and gender minorities into the stage technology and event industry.

- I think we've almost never seen a single female technician. At least not in Sisimiut.

This is according to Maria Camilla Kristiansen, who sits on the board of the Arctic Sounds Festival, where she works a lot with representation in the music and event industry.

In 2024, when the project started, only women and gender minorities could participate in the academy. Today, it is also possible for young men to participate.

- Because we also want our young men to be educated in this field, and men should also learn that women are there and give them space, says Maria Camilla Kristiansen, adding:

- And women should learn to take their space.

The only woman in the class

Demanding your place as a woman in a room and in an industry where you are often the only woman can be borderline – and sometimes downright uncomfortable. Sara Andersen can at least agree with that.

Last year, she was admitted to the event technician program in Frederikshavn, Denmark. She was looking forward to starting.

It turned out that she was the only woman in the class, which she had also expected to happen.

- I was already prepared that there would be a lot of mansplaining and the like. But I was not at all prepared for what it would actually be like, says Sara Andersen.

The environment in the class was toxic. She experienced racism, sexism and all sorts of discrimination.

When Sara Andersen approached her teacher about her experiences, she was met with a lack of understanding.

- Asking for help didn't help, she says.

In the end, it became too much, and she dropped out.

- Sometimes I get a heavy feeling of regret about having been dropped out. I could have learned so much, but I am also grateful that I am out of that environment, says Sara Andersen.

- But it was not an easy decision. Because I love learning about event technology and I really enjoy being in the event environment – ​​but I don't want to have to go back and experience something like that again.

- I am so glad that I said yes

Another young woman who is also part of the academy is 18-year-old Maalia Naasunnguaq Rasmussen Skifte from Nuuk. While Sara Andersen has been with the academy since its inception, this year is the first time that Maalia Rasmussen Skifte is on board the project.

- It was just so cool to meet women who are totally open-minded and creative, and where you could really feel that they are passionate about passing on what they know, she says.

Maalia Rasmussen Skifte has never tried to stand backstage before – she has typically been on stage with a guitar or microphone in her hand. But last year, she got the opportunity to follow the sound engineers on the sidelines during both the Akisuanerit Festival and the Suialaa Arts Festival in Nuuk.

During the Suialaa festival, the sound engineer suddenly turned to Maalia Rasmussen Skifte and asked if she wanted to control the sound for the Josef Tarrak concert.

- And I was like: What? Because I had just been following along, and didn't understand what it was all about, says Maalia Rasmussen Skifte.

When she was told that she would only have to concentrate on controlling his backing track and vocals, she thought it sounded easy enough.

- I play music, so I have a fair sense of what sounds good, she says.

And it was fun to control the sound, she found out. She was subsequently offered to come to the Arctic Sounds Festival this year, as part of the Arctic Sounds Academy's stage engineering team.

- I'm so glad I said yes, says Maalia Rasmussen Skifte.

- You felt welcome, and you could ask stupid questions and do something that sounded terrible or looked terrible, and then get help to fix it.

Will stay in the industry

Maria Camilla Kristiansen's dream with the Arctic Sounds Academy is to reach a place where it is possible to offer education in Greenlandic, for example, lighting and sound technology, with a female teacher.

- But it is a long way off – it will take many years. Because we have to train someone before we can do it, says Maria Camilla Kristiansen.

The first step towards the end goal is to create a safe environment for the women to learn in.

When it comes to the future and the dreams of two of the academy's young talents, anything is possible.

- I hope that one day I will be able to make lights all by myself – and set up the stage, and be good enough to do it myself without asking anyone for help, says Sara Andersen.

Maalia Rasmussen Skifte doesn't know whether she would rather be in front of the stage or behind it – or both.

- I definitely want to learn something that will ensure that I can stay in the industry, she says and adds:

- But of course I dream of becoming good and doing something I can be proud of.