Cape Town’s creative firms are business innovators – but they’re vulnerable
Cape Town was chosen for a pilot study because of its reputation as a creative city. The concept refers to clusters of creative firms, but also includes events and skills.
News Listing
COVID-19 Sport, Arts and Culture Relief Fund submission date looming
Monday, the 6th of April 2020, will be the last day of accepting the applications for the COVID-19, Sports, Arts and Culture Relief Fund.
How SA Music Professionals can make the most of the lockdown
To our Friends, Colleagues, Artists, Venue Owners and Promoters and all those active in the Music Business community. This letter is a proposed checklist for all of you who want to do your best to use self-isolation to maximise our time to ensure we can come back into the world stronger than ever before.
Executive Direction April 2020
With the disastrous havoc wreaked by the Coronavirus, the world as we knew it yesterday is no more. As humans that occupy the planet earth, we have never found ourselves in this position, at least not in modern times.
Industry Insights from Our Research
In the previous Newsletter edition, we started sharing some interesting insights from our research. For the benefit of our new readers, it is perhaps worthwhile to share with them the reason for our existence.
The Overlaps Between The Digital And Creative Sectors: Innovation And Technology In The Creative Economy
This research sought to examine the nexus between digital technologies, innovation, intellectual property, and diversity in the cultural and creative industries (CCIs). It is part of an international collaboration between the SA Cultural Observatory and researchers at the UK’s Coventry and Newcastle Universities.
Quantifying the State of South African Museums from a Supply Side Perspective
Museums have a long, and sometimes controversial, history in South Africa. Cultural institutions, like museums, can be powerful in telling the “authorised” version of our histories, in shaping national identity and in building social cohesion, as well as contributing to education and research through their collection, archiving and conservation of artefacts.
Unpacking The Disparity Between Employment Levels And Contribution To GDP Within The Craft Sector
The Visual Arts and Craft are recognised in many countries as having the potential to create employment and contribute to GDP. The 2018 SA Cultural Observatory mapping study showed that the Visual Arts and Crafts Domain accounts for 53% of industry jobs, but only accounted for 8% of the sector’s contribution to GDP.
Remembering Joseph Shabalala of Black Mambazo
The SA music industry is poorer today after the passing of Ladysmith Black Mambazo founder, Joseph Shabalala two months ago. His was inspiring story for a man who made his life a success in the industry from humble beginnings, including his life as a migrant worker.
Charlize Theron and Trevor Noah’s Oscar nominations important for our industry
Earlier in the year both Charlize Theron and Trevor Noah were nominated for different roles in their respective fields. They were both not announced winners in their nominated categories, BUT, that was not the most important thing about their nomination.
DR Esther Mahlangu continues to shine through her art
Dr Esther Mahlangu’s memorable artistic exploits and talent make her stand out and continues to attract international recognition. Her work was recently featured at a Cape Town exhibition titled Abstractions of a Culture: Towards a Retrospective.
South African Festival Economic Impact Calculator
When normality returns, and South Africans are able to converge, gather and participate in various events and activities, it will perhaps be even more critical for the organisers to understand the economic value of these events.