SAs trade in cultural goods and services with a focus on cultural trade with BRICS partners
This report explores the growth and structure of South Africa’s cultural and creative industries trade, with a focus on the country’s trade with its BRICS partners. As part of a broader mapping study of South Africa’s cultural and creative sector, the report uses the trade classification system that is set out in the UNESCO (2009) Framework for Cultural Statistics (FCS). More particularly, the study uses UN Comtrade data at the 6-digit level of the 2007 Harmonised System (HS) for the goods trade analysis. This allows for a direct mapping to the HS codes used to define cultural goods trade in the UNESCO (2009) FCS. It also allows for an investigation of intra-industry trade by domain. Increased intra-industry specialisation within particular sectors or domains can better harness the potential benefits of trade expansion and promote more balanced value added trade. 
Women who move like water
THE economy, according to some, can be likened to a rainbow. We have all heard of the green or the blue economy. But what of the orange one? The orange economy is the creative economy. It is made up of the creative industries – such as architecture, animation, advertising, fashion and publishing. Together these industries form part of the modern economy where culture is produced and distributed through industrial means; with intellectual property being the main driver of trade, labour and production.
Black mermaid wows GQ fans of blue, orange economies
AUGUST 29, 2024: ZANDILE NDHLOVU, South Africa’s first black freediving instructor and global icon for ocean protection an swimming education, was the first keynote speaker in a new series of First Thursday talks hosted by the South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) in Gqebhera.
Snapshot of the cultural and creative industries in South Africa
The SACO 2022 mapping study showed that the total contribution of the cultural and creative industries to South Africa’s GDP was R161 billion in 2020. This represents just under 3% of South Africa’s total economic production in 2020 and makes the sector approximately the same size as agriculture.
Umtiza Arts Festival Report
On the 27th of May 2024, the South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) took part in the 9th edition of the Umtiza Arts Festival in East London.
Better Africa Better World
May marked Africa month - a moment for the continent to pause, reflect, and celebrate the unique African identity and cultural expression.
