Mapping Cultural, Creative and Sports industries provides the empirical foundation needed to understand their economic footprint, labour dynamics, and growth potential, thereby informing evidence-based strategies that advance national development outcomes and social inclusion.
Learn More
We support the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture with research on how to build an active, creative, winning and socially cohesive nation.
Learn More
We work globally with international organisations, non-profits, governments and institutions to contribute to a global body of research on the cultural and sports economy.
Learn More
All the latests news in sport, arts and culture, as well as insights from our team.
Learn More
Measuring and Valuing South Africa’s Cultural and Creative Economy
The South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) is a national statistical and socio-economic research project, established by the Department of Sport, 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 Kwazulu-Natal. 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:
Events
Research Agenda
