Dr Augustus (Gus) Casely-Hayford is a curator and cultural historian. He is a Research Associate at the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). He has recently presented 'Lost Kingdoms of Africa', 4 x 60 minute television programmes for BBC 2 and BBC 4 in 2010 and has been commissioned to present a second series for February 2012. He presented a study of Hogarth and the 18th Century for the television series, 'The Genius of British Art', for Channel 4 in 2010
He is the former Executive Director of Arts Strategy for Arts Council England. He was previously Director of inIVA, (Institute of International Visual Art), a London-based arts organisation with a particular emphasis on international practice, which collaborates with partner venues throughout the UK and worldwide. Prior to this he was the Director of Africa 05, the largest African arts season ever hosted in Britain. He has advised the United Nations and the Canada Council, Council for Culture of the Dutch and Norwegian Arts Councils, and commissioned to develop the future audience vision for the Tate family of galleries.
He has formerly presented an award-winning South Bank Show on African art, produced a documentary on Chris Ofili for Channel 4 and presented several series on African culture for BBC World Service. He has presented 'Brit Art; where to now' for BBC 4. He was a commissioner of arts for the Greater London Authority.
He lectures on world art at Sotheby's, Goldsmiths College and the University of Westminster, and is a consultant for organisations such as the United Nations, the Arts Council and the BBC. He is a Clore Fellow and sits on a variety of committees and boards including the Tate Britain Council, the National Portrait Gallery Board of Trustees and the African Express music festival.
