Did you know? Films, photographs, radio recordings & oral histories preserve our stories, languages, traditions and shared experiences. For South Africa, audiovisual archives are vital for protecting cultural identity, supporting research passing knowledge to future generations.
This year’s theme highlights how audiovisual heritage connects communities across generations & borders. We recognise the value of cultural knowledge in understanding our creative economy. Let’s protect these stories & keep them accessible for the future.
unesco.org/en/days/audiovisu…
Measuring South Africa’s cultural & creative industries takes more than one number! @SACulturalObs explores how a composite index combines indicators such as economic contribution, employment, trade and cultural participation to build a fuller picture of the sector.
Why does it matter?
The indicators and weights used can shape how we understand the creative economy. Discover how SACO’s proposed Creative and Cultural Industry Index can support a more informed understanding of South Africa’s CCI.
🔗 Read the report: southafricanculturalobservat…
What is the Cultural & Creative Industries? What do music, film, fashion, design & heritage have in common? They’re all part of the creative economy!
But defining the CCI isn’t straightforward. It varies across countries, research methods how creative activities are classified
The CCI drives jobs, innovation, economic growth and cultural identity. Understanding these sectors is key to measuring their impact & shaping informed policies.
Explore SACO’s Creative and Cultural Industry Index for SA: southafricanculturalobservat…
#Tbt What a spectacular gathering! #SACOconf2025, Creative Economy Futures, brought together researchers, policymakers& creatives to exchange insights, spark collaboration and explore a stronger, more inclusive creative economy.
Want to relive the experience? 👇
Explore the conference photo gallery and revisit the moments that brought the creative sector together!
🔗southafricanculturalobservat…
📩 Subscribe to SACO’s website for the latest research, reports, news and insights into SA's cultural & creative economy.
🌐 southafricanculturalobservat…
The Digital Shift
Digital platforms like YouTube, Spotify & Netflix are helping African creatives reach global audiences & the diaspora. 🌍
But greater reach doesn’t always mean greater income. Monetisation, algorithms, copyright & unequal internet access remain key challenges.
SA must pair digital growth with the infrastructure, skills, funding & policy support creatives need to thrive.
The question isn’t whether the creative economy is going digital, but whether our ecosystem is ready to benefit.
📖SACO’s full report: southafricanculturalobservat…
Generative AI: threat, tool or opportunity for creatives?
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From music and image creation to editing & animation, AI is transforming the creative industries. But it doesn’t have to replace creatives. It can also assist with technical tasks and support creative work.
Who owns AI-generated work? How do we protect copyright and ensure fair compensation?
SA needs digital infrastructure, skills development & stronger IP protection to ensure creatives benefit from AI without risking their rights & livelihoods.
🔗southafricanculturalobservat…
CultureObservatory retweeted
📚✨ CELEBRATE NATIONAL BOOK MONTH 2026! ✨📚
A nation that reads is a nation that grows! 🇿🇦📖
This October, join us in celebrating National Book Month as we embrace the power of books to inspire minds, unlock opportunities, and drive national development.
Through a variety of exciting activities in Potchefstroom, North West, the Department encourages everyone to buy books, read more, and celebrate the richness of South Africa’s official languages. 🗣️📚
Every page turned is a step towards a brighter future! 🌟 Let’s cultivate a culture of reading, nurture a love for literature, and make reading part of our everyday lives.
📍 Potchefstroom, North West
🗓️22 October 2026
Read more. Learn more. Grow together! ❤️📖
#NationalBookMonth2026
Creative freedom comes with a complicated reality.
In SA , 36.2% of people in cultural occupations were freelancers or own-account workers in 2024, up from 30.7% in 2010. Digital platforms are also connecting creatives to global markets.
But flexibility comes with risks.
The pandemic exposed freelancers’ vulnerability, 85,000 cultural jobs lost between Q4 2019 &Q4 2020. Building a sustainable creative economy means supporting freelancers through fair contracts, social protection, skills development & better market access.
southafricanculturalobservat…
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT‼️Catch up on SACOs latest newsletter! From closing SA’s literacy gap through Nal’ibali to celebrating our living heritage & exploring the economic value of sports events, discover the stories shaping our cultural & creative economy.
southafricanculturalobservat…
South African creative industries can reach global audiences through digital platforms, opening new opportunities beyond traditional exports.
SACO highlights opportunities in South-South cultural trade and African creative markets.
Growing creative exports requires strong IP protection, digital infrastructure, export support and strategic partnerships.
Regional collaboration can expand market access & elevate African creativity globally.
🔗southafricanculturalobservat…
CultureObservatory retweeted
Rhodes University congratulates honorary graduate Judge Navi Pillay on being awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.
From challenging apartheid to advancing international justice, her lifelong commitment to human rights has made a lasting difference across the world.
Awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws by Rhodes University in 2005, Judge Pillay continues to inspire through her pursuit of justice.
The past decade has transformed the CCIs through digital platforms, AI, freelance work & changing consumption patterns.
@SACulturalObs research shows strong growth in Audio-Visual & Interactive Media, driven by new production & istribution models.
