The South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) has announced its initial call for abstracts, papers, and presentations for its 5th International Conference, #SACOConf2025, set to take place 4 and 5 November 2025, at the Cape Town Stadium. This hybrid event offers both in-person and virtual participation opportunities.
This year’s theme is “Creative Economy Futures – Perspectives, Policies, and Practices for Tomorrow”. As global creative economies undergo rapid transformation, the 5th SACO Conference invites scholars, policymakers, industry professionals, and creatives to critically explore the evolving landscape of Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs).
From AI’s impact on human creativity to cultural policy shifts and funding models, the conference will delve into strategies for fostering inclusive, sustainable, and innovative creative economies.
Who should participate?
The conference is open to a diverse range of participants, including:
- Academics and researchers
- Industry professionals and creative entrepreneurs
- Public managers, policymakers, and thought leaders
- Cultural institutions and arts funders
- Artists, content creators, and emerging talents
- Festival and event organisers
- Sports promoters and administrators
- Arts funders, impact investors, and consultants
Participants are encouraged to submit abstracts engaging with the following critical topics:
- Creative Futures – Envisioning the cultural and creative industries of tomorrow.
- Human-AI Collaboration – The role of AI in reshaping creativity and ownership.
- Political Economy of CCIs – Institutional power, policy shifts, and governance.
- Cultural Policy Redefinition – Adapting policies to global and local realities.
- Creative Work in the Digital Age – Talent retention, precarity, and social protection.
- Copyright Evolution – Fair use, sustainability, and emerging business models.
- Creative Economies Across Geographies – Case studies from non-Western markets.
- Creative Africa – Leveraging cultural identity, BRICS partnerships, and regional development.
- Sustainable Growth Strategies – Managing and scaling creative enterprises.
- Funding Innovations – Emerging investment models and hybrid funding structures.
- Crossroads of Sport, Recreation, and Culture – The role of sports and popular culture in the creative economy.
Call for proposals:
Contributions from diverse perspectives – including practitioners, policymakers, and organisations working directly in the field – are encouraged. We also welcome co-authored and collaborative pieces, as well as lightning talks of under 10 minutes in a Pecha Kucha format. Case studies, innovative approaches, and personal reflections on lived experiences within the creative economy are especially valued.
What should be included in your proposal?
- Papers and Presentations: Abstracts (300-400 words) should outline how your work engages with the conference theme, the methodology used (such as data, case studies, or literature reviews), and key findings or insights.
- Panel Discussions: Proposals for academic or popular panel discussions should include a short rationale (under 400 words), an abstract, and a brief outline of the speakers’ experience.
- Pecha Kucha Presentations: Short, focused and engaging presentations, exclusively utilising images without any accompanying text. The presentation will follow the 20×20 rule, where each presentation consists of 20 slides, each shown for only 20 seconds before automatically progressing to the next one.
Submission deadline: 31 August 2025
Accepted proposals will receive notification within 2-3 weeks of submission. Selected papers may also be considered for publication in the peer-reviewed African Journal of Creative Economy (AJCE).
For submissions and further inquiries:
Paula Holmes: paula.holmes@mandela.ac.za
General Inquiries: info@southafricanculturalobservatory.org.za
Phone: +27 (0)41 504 4930
