Note from the Culturalist: CEO

It’s been a rapidly moving start to the year at the South African Cultural Observatory and momentum is certainly propelling us forward. It’s almost unbelievable that the second quarter of the year is upon us, but looking back much has been achieved that is already setting the tone for the coming months.

Last month we hosted the first National Workshop of the South African Cultural Observatory in Johannesburg, which was accompanied by robust debate and engagement, the presentation of some preliminary data and monitoring systems, and a general introduction of the purpose of the SACO and its operations. The workshop was a good base on which to prepare for the up-coming National Conference, aptly named, ‘Counting Culture’ on May 16 & 17 in Port Elizabeth.

March was also a very busy month for the SACO staff. Professor Jen Snowball participated in a workshop in Paris, ‘The Value of Arts’ on March 8 & 9. The focus was on sharing best practice on the use and development of cultural indicators and statistics, as well as methods for tracking the socio-economic contributions of the cultural industries. The conference programme included inputs from the Head of the UNESCO Chair of Cultural Policy and the Budapest Cultural Observatory.

Over the same time period, I presented the plenary address ‘Report on SA Cultural Observatory with Special Reference to Local Cultural Policy Projects in South Africa’ to a Symposium on the Interface between Cultural Policy and Development, hosted by Tshwane University of Technology with the UNESCO National Commission for South Africa & DAC, Pretoria, 9 to 10 March 2016. This was an ideal platform to publicize the Observatory and to develop future networks. A similar opportunity was available through attendance of the DTi Economic Research Advisory Network (ERAN) Annual Conference, on 10 & 11 March. 

Globally, there has been a lot of action in our industry – some of which is captured in our 360: News from Around the World section of the newsletter. Strangely, as culture increases in value in some areas, others, like Egypt where some of the world’s most ancient culture is enshrined, is under threat. Cultural Observatories globally have an obligation track such threats and help support action that protects global heritage.  

As we look forward to the coming months, we are excited by the research and collaboration opportunities that are amassing. We also expect our resource library to be up and running – both online and at our Donkin Offices and NMMU Missionvale Library, please pop in to see what is on offer ahead of the National Conference in May, where we hope a showcase of current cultural research and a path for future research will be forged. Until then, enjoy the March edition of The Cultural Observer.

Your culturalist,

Prof. Richard Haines

South African Cultural Observatory: CEO