A new workforce development initiative will give young adults direct access to careers in live entertainment through hands-on experience on a major North American tour.

Usher’s New Look and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Detroit announced the launch of the Entertainment Industry Club: Live Touring Edition, a program designed to introduce participants to career pathways in the entertainment trades through real-world touring experience.

The initiative will run in conjunction with the 2026 North American R&B Tour and will select a cohort of 10 interns, ages 18 and older, from Detroit and Atlanta. Organizers say the program is intended to provide structured exposure to the live touring industry, which includes production, operations, creative services, and community engagement roles.

Selected interns will rotate through multiple departments supporting the tour, including stage production, wardrobe and styling, multimedia and content creation, tour operations, and community impact work. Prior to joining the tour, participants will complete a pre-tour training program focused on professional standards, workplace safety, and role-specific technical skills.

Once embedded on the tour, interns will work alongside touring professionals and assist in live show operations, gaining exposure to the day-to-day logistics of a multi-city production environment.

In addition to the internship component, the program will include Spark Sessions: “Making of the Tour,” a national educational series hosted at Boys & Girls Clubs. The sessions are designed to provide young people with behind-the-scenes insight into how live tours are planned, produced, and executed, as well as the broader business structures that support the entertainment industry.

Program organizers say interns will also participate in community activations in tour cities, partnering with local Boys & Girls Clubs to host workshops and training sessions aimed at expanding access to entertainment industry careers.

Shawn H. Wilson, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Detroit and co-founder of Usher’s New Look, said the initiative is intended to connect young people with structured opportunities in an industry where access has historically been limited.

Usher, who founded Usher’s New Look, has long focused on youth leadership and career readiness through arts and education-based programming.

Applications for the Entertainment Industry Club: Live Touring Edition are currently open through Usher’s New Look. Organizers say the cohort will be selected from applicants in Detroit and Atlanta, with space limited due to the hands-on nature of the program.