Following the dawn of a new South Africa in 1994, young people embraced their newfound freedoms by expressing their identities and viewpoints through a variety of cultural disciplines, including music, fashion, performance, and the visual arts.
For many of South Africa’s creatives, December arrives with its own unique rhythm. It’s a month where the country’s cultural heartbeat becomes impossible to ignore.
Beyond the plenary sessions and panel discussions, the first floor at the DHL Stadium emerged as one of the most dynamic and engaging areas at the SACO 5th International Conference held in November 2025.
The setting was a stadium — not your typical venue for a creative-economy conference. But then, the creative and sports economies are not typical industries. They are dynamic, expressive, and increasingly central to how we work, play, and imagine the future.
The South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) was launched in 2015 after a public procurement process.
On Thursday, 8 August 2025, the Youngblood Gallery in Cape Town came alive with rhythm, colour, and powerful conversations as artists, researchers, and music lovers gathered for the Women in Live Music Dissemination Session.
Globally, but particularly in the Global South, we're keenly aware of how funding, policy, and economic pressures impact the creative and sports economy sectors.
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) is introducing the 17 Cultural and Creative Industry Clusters - a national framework designed to formalise, strengthen, and grow South Africa’s creative economy.
From the 8th to the 10th of September, the Economic Society of South Africa held its Centenary Conference in Somerset West, South Africa.
Preparations are in full swing for the highly anticipated 5th International Conference of the South African Cultural Observatory (SACO), scheduled for the 4th and 5th of November 2025.
Every September, South Africans gather and celebrate Heritage Month. This is a time to reflect on the rich and diverse cultures, histories, and traditions that shape our nation.
As part of celebrating Heritage Month, SACO hosted a Brazilian Professorial Mission to strengthen ties between Brazilian and South African universities and cultural research institutions.
