Ms Avril Louise Joffe
The programme delivers research and coursework degree programmes in cultural policy and leadership, strategic planning in the arts, fundraising and audience development among others. The programme also partners with arts based organisations to do research relevant to the sector, such as Samro & Concerts SA, the National Arts Council and Business and Arts SA.
Avril holds a BA in Economics and a BA Honours in Industrial Sociology both from the University of Witwatersrand as well as an M Phil is Development Studies from the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, England.
Between 1998 and 2015, Avril was the Director of Creativity Avril Joffe (CAF), which concentrated on policy, research, education & training on cultural policy, human resource strategies, creative industries, entrepreneurship and management. The core of CAF's work involved developing creative solutions to value chain blockages, urban development, and local and regional economic development with a particular focus on the cultural economy including the cultural and creative industries.
In 2015 she was appointed by the Minister of Arts and Culture to a nine person panel to review the White Paper on Arts, Culture and Heritage, which involved conducting public consultations around the country to draft a new cultural policy for the country. Avril is also a member of an International Consortium led by Monash, Warwick and Shanghai.