South Africa hosts a wide array of sporting events, ranging from local community competitions to internationally televised tournaments. With a growing emphasis on accountability and value for money, government bodies, event organisers, and sponsors increasingly seek to understand how these events contribute to regional economies.
Measuring Cultural Value – Good M&E can include aspects of all these cultural values, using different kinds of information – watch the video for more.
Insights from the Economic Mapping Study by the South African Cultural Observatory highlight the growing contribution of the Cultural and Creative Industries to South Africa’s economy.
On 16 February 2026, leaders across South Africa’s Cultural, Creative & Sports Industries (CCI&S) gathered to reflect on where the sector has been and where it’s going.
The South African Cultural Observatory’s latest mapping report shows the cultural, creative and sports industries now contribute 3.9% to the country’s GDP — valued at roughly R271.2 billion.
The SACO was officially established in 2015 to develop a more sophisticated understanding of South Africa’s cultural and creative economy – and also to map trends, develop statistics, gather economic data across the arts, culture and heritage sectors and the cultural and creative industries (CCIs); and to inform decision and policymakers.
His Excellency Deputy President Paul Mashatile delivers a message of support during the South African Cultural Observatory’s 10th-year anniversary held at the 5th International Conference in Cape Town.
The SA Festivals Economic Impact Calculator by Prof Jen Snowball. Professor of Economics, Rhodes University, South Africa.
The dawn of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) era heralds a paradigm shift in the cultural and creative industries (CCIs), presenting both unprecedented opportunities and formidable challenges. This South African Cultural Observatory's (SACO) report, “Artificial Intelligence – Rushed Revolution or Holy Algorithmic Grail?” offers a comprehensive examination of this transformative impact on South Africa's CCIs, unveiling a sector at a critical juncture. This study, conducted between October 2023 and July 2024, provides a timely snapshot of the AI landscape within the CCIs, capturing the dynamic interplay between technological advancement and creative expression for creative workers and the work they produce. The study asked whether AI’s advent is a rushed revolution or a holy creative grail. The findings show that for most creative workers AI is both a rushed revolution, lacking guardrails and protections, and a renaissance enabling new and unimagined expression and speed. Through rigorous primary research, including surveys, workshops, and interviews with creative workers and industry experts, the report demonstrates the multifaceted nature of AI's integration into creative processes and its implications for the future of work, cultural production, and economic growth. The findings reveal a prevailing sense of cautious optimism among South African creative professionals. A significant majority (68%) express positivity and excitement about AI and machine learning, recognising their potential to open “a whole new paradigm of possibilities and conveniences”. This enthusiasm is reflected in the high adoption rate, with 70% of surveyed individuals reporting the use of AI tools or software in their creative work, particularly GPTs (Generative Pre-trained Transformers) and advanced software suites such as Adobe's Creative Cloud
Objectives: Disseminating information and research findings on SA Cultural Observatory papers: “Gaming in South Africa: Producers and Consumers”; and “South Africa’s Animation Industry: Ecosystem Analysis.”
Interview with Yvonne Chaka Chaka, a South African Singer/Songwriter and Owner of Chaka Chaka Music, for Women's Day
Interview with Professor Jen Snowball, the Chief Research Strategist at the SA Cultural Observatory, and Professor of Economics at Rhodes University
Interview with Unathi Lutshaba, Executive Director of the South African Cultural Observatory
The South African Festivals Economic Impact Calculator (SAFEIC) is a free online tool developed by the South African Cultural Observatory specifically for cultural festival and event organisers so they can track the economic impact of their events.
Employment, job creation and the transformative power of creativity were some of the key issues discussed on both Day 1 and Day 2 of the South African Cultural Observatory’s (SACO) 2018 international conference at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
The South African Cultural Observatory's second National Conference, #SACOConf2017, took place at the Turbine Hall in Johannesburg on 24 & 25 May 2017. This is the overall conference highlights reel for both days, showcasing the vibe, intensity and calibre of the programme and speakers.
