The South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) and the Department of Arts & Culture (DAC) are excited to announce the SACO’s 2018 International Conference on the 7th and 8th of March 2018. The conference will explore the roles and challenges facing the arts, culture and heritage sectors and the creative industries, in contributing to social and economic development. It takes cognizance of new trends and emerging debates regarding the dynamics, working and social effects of the creative economy on a national and international scale. Policy issues and the nature and scope of cultural participation and cultural rights will be considered, as will be questions regarding the institutional and social embeddedness of creative economies. The impact of new technologies and the restructuring of popular culture in terms of production and consumption will constitute an important emphasis. This major theme will be supported by a series of sub-themes including: - Re-visioning the Creative Economy - The Future of Work in the Creative Economy - Funding Arts, Culture and Heritage: Current Concerns and New Options - Culture & the Creative Economy: Area Studies - Cultural Policy in the Age of Neo-Liberalism: Theories and Applications - Popular Culture and the Creative Economy - Cultural Rights & Participation A number of high-level national and international keynote speakers will be in attendance. An announcement regarding these will be made in due course.