The South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) and the Department of Sport, Arts & Culture (DSAC) are excited to announce the SACO's 5th International Conference on 4 and 5 November 2025 at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa.
The conference (#SACOConf2025) will be delivered in hybrid format and will bring together local and international thinkers, theorists, academics, key stakeholders and practitioners, to explore, critically engage and share experiences and insights about the future of the Cultural and Creative industries (CCIs) across the globe. It will also seek to address pertinent issues, from the rise of artificial intelligence to shifting political and social structures.
We are at a pivotal time where cultural landscapes are shifting and emerging technologies are colliding with the way in which the industry has traditionally operated. Delving into what the future holds and how the industry can brace itself and embrace these changes, will ensure that the future of the industry is bright, more inclusive and not only sustainable, but thrives, for all those engrossed.
This conference aims to delve deep into what the future of the cultural and creative industry holds and how cultural practitioners, agencies and interested parties working in the CCI's, from global to local, can continue to forge ahead while embracing innovative new technologies, global disruptions and changing cultural landscapes. All this, at a time when creativity, innovation and digital transformation are increasingly seen as vital to sustainable social and economic development.
