Joseph Gaylard is a strategist and researcher in the cultural field, with more than two decades of experience in building and leading organisations, industry research and thoughtful advocacy.
His work has been centrally concerned with the movement of ideas, people and projects across the African continent and the Global South. He served for over a decade as Head of Pro Helvetia Johannesburg (2013-2025) – one of five international offices of the Swiss Arts Council – and previously as Director of the Visual Arts Network of South Africa. In addition to these leadership roles, he has maintained an active consulting practice in the areas of policy research and development, programme design and impact assessment, and strategic advisory work. Collaborators and clients have included GOPA PACE, On The Move, the South African Cultural Observatory, DALRO, Andani Africa, the Christian Michelsen Institute, HIVOS, the HSRC, the CSIR, and Business and Arts South Africa.
Joseph’s work with IKS focuses on intellectual property rights management in small markets, and new models for funding and finance.