South African Cultural Observatory
The South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) is a national statistical and socio-economic research project, established by the Department of Arts & Culture, with the purpose of developing a comprehensive cultural information system in South Africa. The South African Cultural Observatory is hosted by and based at the Nelson Mandela University, and co-hosted in partnership with Rhodes University and the University of Fort Hare. The primary cultural domains, as idenitifed by UNESCO, such as arts, tourism, heritage, libraries and museums, are the main research focus of the SACO and such research will support the development of intellectual capacity across these sectors.
The key functions of the South African Cultural Observatory include the following:
- Policy focused research (surveys, case studies)
- Reviews of current programmes
- M&E – impact of government spending
- Collection of statistics (databases)
- Physical and Online access
- Networking, sharing, partnerships
Executive Direction - From the desk of...
These past few months have seen some good momentum gained in providing direction to the research outputs of the South African Cultural Observatory. In the same vein, the inputs for the Research Agenda have expanded the research possibilities for the Observatory and the sector as a whole.
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Latest News
Africa Month Celebrations have begun
In celebration of the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the African Union and the Department of Arts and Culture will host a series of events to celebrate Africa Month throughout the month of May culminating in the celebration of Africa Day on the 25th May. These celebrations are aimed at encouraging nation building through unity and freedom from oppression.
April Gig-Guide: cultural events not to be missed!
The month of April is a significant month in South Africa as it brings the remembrance of its first democratic election back in 1994. With it, brings the exciting buzz of ‘freedom’ in the country, and what better way to show true liberation than by reflecting and witnessing the country’s cultural scene during the month of April
How South Africa Can Grow Its Gaming Industry?
In 2018, the global gaming industry consisted of 2.3 billion consumers, who spent nearly US$ 138 billion on games. Research done two years ago showed that there were more than 11m gamers in South Africa.
Business and Arts South Africa Welcomes New CEO
The board of Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) has officially introduced and welcomed their new Chief Executive officer, Ashraf Johaardien who joined the organization on 01 March, 2019. He has taken over from the successful leadership and legacy of Nicola Danby, and then, Michelle Constant after two decades. Nonetheless, Ashraf’s fundamental background in artistry and arts administration has made him a suitable candidate for the position, and has given him the potential to drive BASA towards more success.
Highlights Of Some Of Our Research Produced Since October Last Year
The report was aimed at exploring South Africa’s cultural goods trade with selected African countries between 2007 and 2017, with reference to the current cultural policy environment at the continental and regional level affecting such trade. The UNESCO (2009) Framework for Cultural Statistics is used to identify cultural goods, with trade data sourced from UN Comtrade (2018). This study is thus important in the light of South Africa’s signing of the Agreement (AfCFTA) to establish the Continental Free Trade Area in July 2018.
Matwetwe star’s passing was a loss to the whole industry
The South African culture and creative industries was dealt a terrible blow with the killing of Sibusiso Khwinana, one of the lead actors in the home-grown film, Matwetwe. His unfortunate and untimely passing at such a tender age has deprived the country and the arts community of his raw talent. In part, due to his and co-actors, the film is reported to have made the top 10 most watched films in South Africa.
Word from DAC
The creative and cultural economies are one of the fastest growing industries and should be at the centre of national strategic priority to unlock the wider socio- economic participation and inclusivity in the mainstream economy.
The impact of commodity-dependent countries like South Africa has refocused attention on the urgency of economic diversification, revitalization and harnessing of human innovation in order to weather the economic storm.
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The 360: News from around the world
INDONESIA is planning to hold the first ever “World Conference on Creative Economy” (WCCE), involving stakeholders and representatives from governments, private sectors, think-tanks, civil society, international organizations, as well as media and experts in the creative economy.
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Open Source: Latest research for download
COPYRIGHT is a big issue in the digital age. The copyright debate is raging largely between the European Union (EU) and the big technology giants. EU lawmakers have been working for two years on proposed legislation aimed at updating copyright for the digital age.
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Progress Report: Updates on CO achievements
The South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) was given a boost with last week’s release of the UN’s Creative Economy Outlook and Country Profile report, giving the institution a fitting recognition.
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