| Title | Chapter 7 |
|---|---|
| Subtitle | An exploration of technology to promote arts and culture in local economic development |
| Contributor | Peter Walther Baur(author) |
| Johann Frederich Kirsten(author) | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.4102/aosis.2025.BK566.07 |
| Landing page | https://books.aosis.co.za/index.php/ob/catalog/book/566 |
| License | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ |
| Copyright | Marius Venter & Chané de Bruyn. Licensee: AOSIS (Pty) Ltd. The moral rights of the editors and authors have been asserted. |
| Publisher | AOSIS |
| Long abstract | The advent of digital platforms has revolutionised the way in which societies interact, exchange information and flourish in this modern world. This research explores the role of digital platforms in South Africa through facilitating cultural exchange and promoting arts and culture as integral components of local economic development (LED). By bridging geographical boundaries, digital technologies have opened new avenues for artists, cultural practitioners and local communities to share their heritage, creativity and innovations on a global scale. The research explores the evolution of digital platforms and the influence of the internet on the cultural sector in South Africa and other emerging countries. It examines how access to technology and the role of online marketplaces have become instrumental in promoting the local arts industry. These platforms create economic opportunities for local artists and cultural institutions. In doing so, the chapter highlights how digitalisation not only promotes cultural participation and economic inclusion but also supports environmentally sustainable practices by reducing carbon-intensive activities and fostering green innovation within the cultural economy. A critical analysis is provided on the mechanisms through which digital platforms contribute to local economies. This includes an exploration of case studies where communities have successfully leveraged technology to boost tourism, generate employment and foster entrepreneurship in the cultural sector. A longitudinal data analysis between 2012 and 2023 was undertaken through an explanatory model highlighting digitalisation’s role when analysing the relationship between the cultural sector, technology and economic variables within South Africa. Moreover, the research delves into the role of digital infrastructure within the cultural sector of the South African economy and its impact on LED in South Africa. Digitalisation is important for the development of the creative industries within the local economies. Challenges and barriers to maximising the potential of digital platforms are also addressed by developing a descriptive econometric model that explores the impact of digitalisation on the arts and cultural sector of South Africa. |
| Print length | 25 pages |
| Language | English (Original) |
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Peter Walther Baur is an associate professor in the School of Economics at UJ, South Africa. He holds a PhD in Economics from the same university. He has lectured internationally and across South Africa for many institutions, universities and business schools. His community engagement has spanned both the private and public sectors. His fields of research include cultural, financial, behavioural and development economics. He sits on the research board for the Gauteng Department of Economic Development and is a member of the Community of Practice for Entrepreneurship Research. He has acted as an economic adviser for the city council on LED, and he is a co-director for PASCAL International Observatory (Africa). He has published in several national and international journals and has often been featured in both local and international media, where he is often called upon for commentary and economic analysis. He currently heads the Arts and Cultural Research Unit of the School of Economics at UJ, South Africa, focusing predominantly on research into cultural economics and cultural entrepreneurship in South Africa. He serves as the Deputy Head of the Arts Unit at the Athens Institute of Education and Research. He sits on the Board of the Arts and Culture Trust and is a member of the Centre of Local Economic Development.
Johann Frederich Kirsten is a senior lecturer in economics at UJ, South Africa, specialising in subjective social indicators, cultural economics, economic development, inequality, and environmental attitudes and perceptions. He has published in high-impact journals such as Social Indicators Research, Sociological Inquiry and the Cambridge Journal of Economics. He is also the project manager of the Economic Development and Well-Being Research Group (EDWRG), where he fosters academic collaboration and policy-relevant research. His work has gained national media attention and international recognition, including invitations to present at prestigious conferences and institutions such as the Geneva Graduate Institute, Switzerland, and the International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies (ISQOLS).