The South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) is proud to announce its 5th International Conference, taking place on 4–5 November 2025 at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town. Under the theme “Creative & Sports Economy Futures: Perspectives, Policies and Practices for Tomorrow”, the conference will bring together thought leaders, academics, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and creative professionals from across South Africa, Africa, and the globe.
A Timely Gathering for the Cultural and Creative Industries
The Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) stand at a pivotal moment. Rapid technological shifts, new political and social dynamics, and the rise of artificial intelligence are reshaping the ways we create, collaborate, and innovate. SACO 2025 will provide a platform to debate these changes, showcase groundbreaking research, and imagine bold futures for both the creative and sports economies.
What to Expect
The two-day hybrid event will feature keynotes, panel discussions, workshops, and paper presentations, designed to foster cross-sector collaboration and knowledge sharing. The program will explore pressing issues, including:
- Creative Futures: How emerging trends and AI are transforming the creative economy.
- The Human-AI Accommodat: The role of artificial intelligence in reshaping human creativity.
- The Political Economy of Creativity: How policy, governance, and institutions shape the sector.
- Rewriting Cultural Policy: Shifts in national, sub-national, and global cultural strategies.
- Rethinking Creative Work: The gig economy, precarity, and the future of talent.
- The Future of Copyright: Navigating equity, fairness, and sustainability in a digital age.
- Creative Africa: Leveraging cultural identity, language, and storytelling to build a sustainable creative economy.
- New Funding Models: Exploring hybrid public-private approaches and alternative financing for the CCIs.
Who Should Participate?
SACO 2025 invites academics, policymakers, industry leaders, creative entrepreneurs, artists, cultural institutions, funders, festival organizers, and sports administrators to join the conversation. With a hybrid format, participants can engage both in person and online, making this one of the most inclusive and far-reaching conferences in the field.
ICSB Supports SACO 2025
The International Council for Small Business (ICSB) proudly supports SACO 2025. Through this support, the conference will highlight the intersection of entrepreneurship, small business development, and the creative and sports economies, ensuring that innovation and human-centered growth remain central to the global conversation.
Why Attend?
This flagship conference is more than an academic gathering—it is a platform for networking, partnership-building, and shaping the future of creative and sports economies. By bringing together diverse voices and perspectives, SACO 2025 aims to strengthen evidence-based policy, foster innovation, and ensure the sector’s resilience and sustainability for generations to come.
👉 Visit southafricanculturalobservatory.org.za to learn more and register.