Research and Publications

Welcome to the research page of the South African Cultural Observatory (SACO), your premier resource hub for in-depth insights into the cultural and creative industries (CCIs), arts, culture, heritage (ACH), and sports sectors.

As the landscape of these industries continues to evolve globally, the South African Government, through the Department of Sport, Arts & Culture, alongside its affiliated entities and SACO, remains steadfast in its commitment to cultivating a robust repository of research to drive informed policy, strategic planning, and decision-making.

This section of the SACO website stands as a digital library, offering a rich tapestry of the latest research emanating from international, regional, and local contexts, as well as archival studies spanning diverse sectors worldwide.

Delve into our extensive collection to unearth a myriad of publications, reports, frameworks, guides, presentations, working papers, multimedia content, and other invaluable resources shedding light on the dynamic CCIs, ACH, and sports landscapes.

These sectors collectively represent the Golden Economy of nations, embodying the intersection of creativity, heritage, and sporting excellence.

We invite you to contribute to South Africa's National Research agenda for the sports, CCIs and ACH sectors, as we work together to advance understanding and innovation in these critical areas of cultural and economic development.