Director of V&A East Dr Gus Casely-Hayford awarded honorary degree from Kingston University

Posted Monday 5 August 2024

Curator, broadcaster and cultural historian Dr Gus Casely-Hayford OBE has been named an Honorary Doctor of Art and Design at a Kingston University graduation ceremony. The honour has been bestowed in recognition of his outstanding contribution to arts and heritage and his advocacy for arts education.

Dr Casely-Hayford is the inaugural Director of V&A East, which is set to open in Spring 2025, and writes, lectures and broadcasts widely on culture. He has previously held the position of Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art in Washington DC – widely regarded as the world's most comprehensive collection-based museum and research centre dedicated to African art.

As a television broadcaster and champion of the arts he has presented two series of The Lost Kingdoms of Africa for the BBC, alongside writing the accompanying book, and two series of Tate Britain: Great Art Walks for Sky. As well as having worked for every major British television channel, Dr Casely-Hayford has lectured widely on art and culture, including periods at Sotheby's Institute of Art and at Goldsmiths, Birkbeck, City University, University of Westminster and SOAS. The United Nations and the Canadian, Dutch and Norwegian Arts Councils are among the national and international bodies to have benefited from his expertise in heritage and culture.

Curator, broadcaster and cultural historian Dr Gus Casely-Hayford OBE has been awarded Doctor of Art and Design at our final graduation ceremony of the Summer 🎓🎉

Gus talks about his career, role at V&A East and why art education is so valuable to the UK 💙#MadeInKingston pic.twitter.com/hlvkPseEeP
— Kingston University (@KingstonUni) July 26, 2024

Growing up in a creative household in South London, Dr Casely-Hayford took his early inspiration from reading Gombrich's The Story of Art. As he became more immersed in analysing historical stories about art, he discovered the power of communicating complex ideas through writing about artistic innovation. That passion for creating open and diverse spaces for people to experience culture has informed his work ever since.

It was on his return from a spell working in America that Dr Casely-Hayford first lectured at Kingston University, mostly remotely during the Covid-enforced lockdowns. "While teaching students from Kingston School of Art, I observed how engaged the students were and their passion, commitment and sheer brightness," he said. "It is wonderful to see an institution that is thriving and is doing so absolutely empowered by the support of its students and leaders."

During the course of his career, Dr Casely-Hayford has witnessed a shift across the sector, with more focus on diversifying both the art on display and the audiences engaging with it. "I have been able to create opportunities for diversifying both what is shown at museums and galleries, as well as who is presenting and curating the work," he explained. "I feel very proud that the V&A has crafted a whole new museum in V&A East and placed it in one of the most culturally under-served areas of East London, with a core target audience encompassing people who don't traditionally visit museums."

Recent change in the pollical landscape provided fresh opportunities for the arts – an area which had not had the attention deserved in recent years, Dr Casely-Hayford said. "It's vital to have that political will – creating culture through courses and having universities offering an environment that provides young people with the confidence to innovate," he said. "Those are the things that create centres of dynamism and innovation that really change things. What is good news for the UK is that this can happen in a handful of years. Focusing on a skills-led approach in the next few years could really make a difference."

Offering his advice to graduating students, Dr Casely-Hayford emphasised the importance of forging communities of support in different areas throughout their careers. "The future will be all about the relationships we build. Be flexible and open, listen, learn how to make and keep friends and remember that core set of big principles that drive and inspire you to work for change," he said. "When you succeed, remember the people who are further down the hill who are finding it tough and extend your hand. There are lessons to be learned from people no matter where they sit within the wider canvas of the discipline."

Kingston University Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost Professor Helen Laville said Dr Casely-Hayford's commitment to making culture and creative expression more accessible was inspirational. "Gus Casely-Hayford's work at V&A East serves as a model of how global museums can celebrate and serve their diverse local communities," she said. "During challenging times, Dr Casely-Hayford remains a practical optimist, with a clear sense of the important role the arts and cultural sectors can play in building sustainable, inclusive and joyful futures."