About
Welcome to the Cape Town chapter of SIGGRAPH, the local hub for professionals, students, and enthusiasts in the world of computer graphics and interactive techniques. Founded in 2024, our chapter is part of the global ACM SIGGRAPH network, renowned for fostering innovation, cutting-edge research, and a passion for visual storytelling in digital mediums.
Above: Founding Members of Cape Town ACM SIGGRAPH Chapter
Left to right: Marc Eckstein, Kaydee de Villiers, Marco Raposo de Barbosa, Reg Nance-Kivell, Leigh Pearson, Mike Smith, Stacey Pearson, Marc Bloch, Bradley Stilwell, Wicus Labuschagne
At Cape Town SIGGRAPH, we aim to unite the diverse talents of our community — from VFX artists to computer scientists, animators to educators. Our mission is to inspire through collaboration, education, and the exchange of ideas. Whether you’re a seasoned professional in the film industry, a budding digital artist, or simply fascinated by the intersection of technology and art, you’ll find a welcoming space here.
Through workshops, speaker events, and networking opportunities, we provide a platform for members to share their work, learn from industry leaders, and connect with like-minded individuals. Our chapter is committed to nurturing the growth and excellence of South Africa’s CG and interactive technology sectors, making the wonders of SIGGRAPH accessible to the Cape Town community and beyond.
Join us as we explore the limitless possibilities of digital creativity, grounded in the spirit of innovation that defines Cape Town. Discover new technologies, artistic techniques, and the stories that bring us together, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the world of computer graphics.
ACM SIGGRAPH has a long-standing reputation in the computer graphics industry, dating back to the 1960s. ACM Board member Sam Matsa, who worked for IBM, and Andy Van Dam of Brown University organized a professional development seminar on Interactive Computer Graphics. The turnout was so impressive that ACM formally recognized a special interest committee in graphics, with Matsa as founding chairman and Van Dam as secretary.
Two years later, a formalized governance process was established to elect officers and the organization became a “special interest group” (SIG) known as ACM SIGGRAPH.
In 1974, the group held its first conference in Boulder, Colorado. Since then, the organization has expanded to support two annual conferences per year, both of which are attended by tens of thousands of computer professionals.
The SIGGRAPH Asia (SA) conference was inaugurated in 2008. The conference has convened in several locations including Singapore, Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong and has continued in the strong technical tradition of SIGGRAPH. The SA conference proceedings are also published as a special edition of TOG.
With ACM SIGGRAPH’s worldwide membership base and global reach in the computer graphics industry, the organization is primed to drive innovation in computer graphics and interactive techniques.
