2019, what a year it was. It has been an exciting year for the Arts, Heritage, Cultural and Creative sector. This is not say there were no lows. That would be abnormal. The industry lost several artists, young and old. We will forever be indebted to them for they have bequeathed us with their brilliant artistic contributions which will live continuously in society’s collective memory.
Overall, it was a positive year for the industry. The cultural and creative industries received serious recognition as a significant economic sector with a possibility to make a huge impact to the country’s economic development. South Africa, including the highest office in the land, took note of our various research outputs, particularly the Mapping Study 2018 which showed that the sector is a significant economic contributor. We are due to release results of the latest Mapping Study in the first quarter of 2020.
In releasing The Creative Economy Outlook and Country Profile early in the year, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) predominantly relied on our Mapping Study for information about South Africa’s creative industries. The Profile highlights the trends in the international trade in the cultural and creative industries.
The year was filled with so many positives for our artists. They hoisted the SA flag high on a global stage. From Sho Majozi bagging the BET award to Ndlovu Youth Choir making it to the finals at America’s Got Talent, Trevor Noah’s Grammy award nomination to Nomzamo Mbatha and Thuso Mbedu landing acting roles in Hollywood. All this is testimony to the thriving industry.
The team at the Observatory traversed the length and breadth of the country throughout the year conducting dissemination and capacity building workshops, engaging with art practitioners in the most remote rural areas and various metropoles. We interacted with artists from all nine provinces, in their rural and urban settings, and can attest that the future of the industry is indeed bright. It is our hope that we will engage with even more practitioners in the new year.
As the year draws to a close, let us all take heed of the United Nations’ declaration for the year 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages. The objective was to raise awareness of the consequences of the endangerment of Indigenous languages across the world with an aim of establishing a link between language, development, peace, and reconciliation.
In South Africa, the Department of Arts and Culture offers bursaries to students wishing to enrol for degrees majoring in African Languages, Translation Studies and Linguistics in a bid to build capacity in language practice and to elevate the status of previously marginalized official languages. In a research we conducted at one of the recipient universities, we found that over 90% of the graduates get employed and remain in the languages related professions. In addition to the bursaries programme, the Department additionally supports the South African Book Week, which encourages and gives exposure to writers and authors who write in various languages, including indigenous languages. The Book Week is aimed at encouraging as many South Africans to read and engender a strong culture of reading. Our assessment of the Book Week reveals that the number of authors writing in African languages was on the increase, which bodes well for the promotion of previously marginalised languages. It is my hope that beyond 2019, we will do our bit to promote all indigenous languages.
Finally, it is that time of celebratory festivities, where majority of South Africans take time out to enjoy what the arts and culture industry has to offer. Be it music concerts, theatre performances, movies or simply visiting museums and art fairs, there is variety of cultural products on offer. I would like to urge as many South Africans to go out and buy tickets to support local artists. This has a huge economic benefit to the industry, those it employs and the country in general.
As the quarter comes to a close, the South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) celebrates the remarkable vitality and diversity of the country's cultural and creative industries. These sectors have demonstrated impressive strength and adaptability, highlighting their significant contributions to the nation's growth.
READ MORETHE 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.
READ MORESouth Africa, 30 years into democracy, faces a challenge in nurturing a culture of democracy that resonates with its youth. South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) executive director Unathi Lutshaba argues that harnessing the unifying power of culture can bridge this gap and drive positive societal change. The creative economy not only fuels economic growth but also reinforces democratic values, making it a vital component in shaping South Africa's future. Through continued research, advocacy, and collaboration, SACO envisions a Mzansi where creativity and democracy thrive together.
READ MORESouth Africa's vibrant cultural and creative industries (CCIs) have long been a source of national pride and economic growth. The South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) and Department of Sport, Arts and Culture’s (DSAC) statistics that show the CCIs contribute 3% to national GDP and close to 1 million jobs is well known.
READ MORENew Brighton Pictures’ first Non-Fiction title has been selected at Film Africa Festival hosted by the Royal African Society in London from 25 October to 03 November 2024.
As the quarter comes to a close, the South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) celebrates the remarkable vitality and diversity of the country's cultural and creative industries. These sectors have demonstrated impressive strength and adaptability, highlighting their significant contributions to the nation's growth.
A person’s language ability refers to one’s level of skill in speaking, hearing, reading, and writing a language.
The ECPACC (Eastern Cape Provincial Arts & Culture Council) Strategic Planning Session was held at Mpekweni Resort in Peddie on 5 September 2024.
The South African Cultural Observatory’s (SACO’s) research report on the review/evaluation of the Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) program illuminated some eye-opening insights about the MGE program.