V&A East Director Gus Casely-Hayford on Museum's Mission to Engage Youth Through Tania Bruguera Commission

Gus Casely-Hayford, director of V&A East, emphasizes the museum's commitment to inspiring young people through accessible programming. A key commission at the new V&A East museum is Tania Bruguera's stained-glass window titled 'Towards a Civic Museum,' created in consultation with the V&A East Youth Collective. The artwork, featuring indigo, cobalt blue, and cyan hues, serves as both a map of four Olympic Park boroughs and a list of community wishes. Bruguera collaborated with a dozen young east Londoners on this piece, which functions as a contract between the museum and the local area. Developed during the post-pandemic period, the work reflects aspirations for museums to be open, relevant, and engaged. Casely-Hayford expresses concern over youth disengagement despite available inspiration, positioning V&A East as a bridge to creative futures. The commission is part of the museum's New Work series, displayed in circulation spaces at the Olympic Park site. This initiative aims to make cultural institutions more useful and connected to their communities.