Open call: SACO online workshop on Festival Economic Impact Tool

The session, scheduled for 30 September 2025 from 10am to 12pm, will focus on the South African Festival Economic Impact Calculator (SAFEIC), a free digital tool developed by SACO to assess the financial and social value of creative events.

The workshop will guide event organisers, funders, and policymakers on how to use SAFEIC to evaluate the economic benefits of festivals, demonstrate their impact to investors and sponsors, and provide evidence-based justification for continued support within the creative sector.

SAFEIC provides credible and conservative estimates of an event’s contribution to local economies, regardless of size. It is adapted from a regional economic impact model initially developed for cultural events in the United States and customised for the South African context with input from the original modeller.

Participation in the virtual session is open to all interested stakeholders. Registration can be completed online here.