Dr Gus Casely-Hayford, OBE, Director of V&A East, is a curator and cultural historian who writes, lectures and broadcasts widely on culture. He has presented series for Sky and BBC radio and television and has worked for every major British TV channel. Former Executive Director of Arts Strategy, Arts Council England, (Britain’s major Art’s funder) and Ex – Director of the Institute of International Visual, he has offered leadership to both large and medium scale organizations including the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art.

He has served on the boards of many cultural institutions, including the National Trust and the National Portrait Gallery. Dr Casely-Hayford has lectured widely on culture, including periods at Sotheby’s Institute, Goldsmiths, Birkbeck, City University, University of Westminster and SOAS. He has advised national and international bodies on heritage and culture including the United Nations and the Canadian, Dutch and Norwegian Arts Councils.
_{(Photo: Suki Dhanda)}