Over 50 local and international speakers will present key academic, creative and economic findings at the South African Cultural Observatory’s (SACO) first national conference in Port Elizabeth from Monday, 16 to Tuesday, 17 May.
International contributions will be delivered by founder of the Grenoble Observatory, Guy Saez, considered a global leader in cultural observatory work; Canada Arts Council manager for research, evaluation and performance measurement, Gabriel Zamfir; National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of the Ukraine, Prof. Ryabchenko; and Regional Director for Sub-Saharan-Africa of the Goethe Institute, Norbert Spitz.
Local contributions include those from National Arts Festival Artistic Director, Ismail Mahomed; Deputy Director General: Research, of the Department of Arts & Culture and Project Manager for the Cultural Observatory, Mphikeleli Mnguni; Michelle Constant, Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) CEO; and Prof. Jen Snowball from Rhodes University, who is considered one of South Africa’s foremost cultural economists.
The Observatory is a new national research institute focused on mapping the impact of the South African creative and cultural industries, hosted by Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University on behalf of the Department of Arts and Culture, with partnership support from the University of Fort Hare and Rhodes University.
This inaugural conference, which serves to introduce the creative and academic sectors to the Observatory, will be held at The Boardwalk International Convention Centre, and will set the agenda for this significant organisation.
Speakers and participants from across the creative and cultural spectrum will be in attendance, including some top African and international practitioners. Delegates will contemplate the growing global economic impact of the creative sector, how to measure and amplify its impact, and find the best methods to articulate African and international best practice.
Under the banner ‘Counting Culture’, the conference will also highlight the growing economic influence of the sector – spanning visual and performing arts, heritage and museums, festivals, architecture, advertising, design and digital media – which is increasingly recognised globally for its socio-economic contribution.
The SACO says an exciting list of speakers have been confirmed to provoke thought and stir debate. “Along with the leadership of DAC, we have attracted some high-profile and influential local, African, and international delegates, who will be contributing in presentations and panel discussions, and no doubt adding great value to our thinking on how the Observatory can support the socio-economic potential of culture and creativity in South Africa,” says SACO CEO, Prof. Richard Haines, of NMMU.
South African speakers who will feature on the programme include Haines himself, Mnguni, Constant, Mahomed, World Heritage Specialist from Liberation Heritage, Khwezi kaMphumlwana and Prof. Jen Snowball among others.
Full professor of Economics at Rhodes University, with a PhD in Economics from the same university, Prof. Snowball is also a research strategist at the National Cultural Observatory in South Africa.
Snowball says the Observatory is crucial as research has shown Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) in many countries are growing at a faster rate than the rest of the economy. During her talks Snowball will provide “a better understanding of the CCIs in South Africa, including ways in which the values they create can be expressed and measured”.
She says this is important to “develop policies that support sector development and to raise awareness about their importance in both economic and social spheres.”
Mahomed, who has served as Artistic Director of the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown for eight years, has worked in the industry for most of his professional life. His talk will focus on how he has curated the festival’s artistic programme. He will also reflect on how he has drawn on major South African socio-political anniversaries as a catalyst for curating a programme that critically reflects on the past, tries to make sense of the present and attempts to re-imagine the future.
Mahomed will also discuss how he has balanced artist and audience needs with funder imperatives to curate a programme that serves the vested interests of a broad range of stakeholders.
Mahomed says the cultural industries in South Africa are constantly evolving and growing: “The sector can benefit immensely from an initiative such as the South African Cultural Observatory, which will work across several artistic disciplines and sectors to effectively research and respond to challenges, trends and opportunities that can enable the arts sector to work optimally towards economic growth, sustainability and increased stability.
“Vital to this is that it will have the potential to inform future policy development based on research and engagement with an extensive range of stakeholders.”
During her presentation on arts-based initiatives as a new economic currency, BASA CEO, Constant will address “how the arts can support the transformation of business in the new economic paradigm, creating an environment of ‘Shared Value’”.
She says: “The need for transformative change, as opposed to change for change’s sake will be highlighted.” Her presentation will argue that it is through arts based initiatives (ABI’s) that ‘soft skills’ (resilience, innovation, creativity, emotional agility and social capital), can be developed and taught in business, given the function of the arts to act as a trigger and catalyst or a progressive enabler in business.
Haines believes this impressive assortment of speakers and presenters will offer opportunities to attendees to network and forge new links within the local and international industry. “The conference will establish and reinforce long-term partnerships with local, African and international scholars and practitioners for a new creative Africa,” he says. “We are also very excited about the participation of young scholars who are working in the field, this, mixed with high level industry practitioners, members of the DAC and our international speakers promises lively debate and insightful learnings,” he concludes.
Attendance to the conference is free, but delegates will be responsible for their own transportation, accommodation and catering.
To register for the conference online, go to www.saco2016.co.za or contact conference organizer, Salome Clack at organiser@saco2016.co.za or call 082 907 0954.
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