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Promoting professional standards and ethical business practice in the communications industry throughout Southern Africa.



F*** Security: The psychological and safety impacts of artist-initiated show-pauses at live events
25 February 2025
Adrienne Whitworth, John Drury

A critical new study by John Drury and Adrienne Whitworth from the University of Sussex explores the psychological and safety consequences of artist-initiated show pauses, especially since the tragic Astroworld incident. The paper examines the tension between artists, security staff, and audiences. It also explores how these uncoordinated pauses can impact crowd safety and shared identity.


Gap Analysis of Service Quality at Innibos Arts Festival
African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure Vol. 3 (2) - (2014)
Prof.  Sue Geldenhuys, Lisa Welthagen

Events, specifically festivals, have experienced significant growth in South Africa over the past ten years in size, numbers, diversity and popularity (Van Zyl, 2011).  Arts festivals have become a feature in the South African cultural landscape and long term success and sustainability of these events rely on the emphasis of service quality, thereby highlighting sustainability of festivals and events.  The questionnaire, based on the SERVQUAL model and an adaption of the Grönroos model was used to identify service perceptions and expectations of service quality at Innibos National Arts Festival in Mbombela, South Africa.  The data were collected in two phases, the first prior to the festival to measure attendee’s expectations, and the second after the festival to measure the attendee’s experience of service quality at the festival .  The statistical analysis was performed on a construct level as well as an individual variable level.  This study aimed at quantifying the gap between attendee’s expectations and perceptions of service quality and overall customer satisfaction. 

The Economic Mapping of the Cultural and Creative Industries in South Africa 2022
South African Cultural Observatory

In addition to the important social and cultural values that cultural and creative activities contribute to the identity and wellbeing of South Africans, the contribution of the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) to economic growth, employment, and international trade has also been increasingly acknowledged. In South Africa, this occurred through the “Mzansi’s Golden Economy” initiative, under which the South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) was founded.


Mapping live event technical and production services in South Africa 2023
South African Cultural Observatory

Since 2014, the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, through the South African Cultural Observatory has built a portfolio of data mapping the Creative and Cultural Industries in South Africa. This research report provides results of a study on live event technical and production services in South Africa. Live event technical and production services support and enable a broad range of production including performing arts, music, festivals and other events. Technical and production services for live events facilitate opportunities for a broad range of labour from highly creative individuals and those with specialist technical and management skills to a range of skilled and semi-skilled support occupations. This is an important, but often overlooked, economic sub-sector within the Creative and Cultural Industries.

PWC Africa Entertainment and Media Outlook 2024-2028

PWC’s Africa Entertainment and Media Outlook 2024-2028 provides a compass for entertainment and media leaders as they navigate the coming years. As E&M companies reinvent their business models, they must understand preceisely where, in which regions and in which sub-sectors, new pools of revenue will form. PWC’s 13th annual outlook offers an in-depth look at the drivers and inhibitors of E&M sector growth, as well as the latest trends and insights set to shape the African market across South Africa, Nigertia and Kenya over the next five years.


The South African live events, technical and production services industry’s market position and COVID-19 funding implications
South African Theatre Journal 2022 Vol 35(1) (pages 45-73)
Thérèse Roux & Marié-Heleen Coetzee

COVID-19 has had a significant economic impact on a global scale. The national lockdown, enacted through the Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002, disrupted multiple economic activities, including that of the Creative and Cultural industries. In the performance and celebrations domain, under which live events (theatre and performance) and technical production services (technical support and services for theatre and performance) resort, the postponement or cancellation of events in the face of the pandemic had a devastating effect on lives and livelihoods.


Size, scope and economic impact of the Live Event & Technical Production Services Industry in South Africa 2025

This study examines the multifaceted nature of the live event and technical production services industry (LETPS) in South Africa, exploring its size, scope, and significant economic impact. Drawing on a range of recent studies and reports, including those commissioned by the South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) and industry-led surveys, this article provides a comprehensive overview of the sector's contribution to employment, economic growth, and the broader cultural and creative industries (CCIs) landscape. The analysis delves into the characteristics of the LETPS industry, highlighting its diverse range of activities, the prevalence of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMMEs) and freelance work, and its vulnerability to economic shocks and infrastructural challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and loadshedding.


Research study to measure the number of international and regional business events held in South Africa

The document presents a research study measuring the economic impact of international and regional business events held in South Africa. Its focus is on international and regional business events hosted in South Africa between January 2019 and March 2020
(pre-covid) 
It collects data from venue and organiser databases to examine the number of events, delegate attendance, geographic distribution, seasonality, event types, sectors, and economic contribution. 

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