David Holland, Senior Strategic Associate, Scansion; Deputy Director, Creative West

David Holland brings 20 years of experience as a strategy consultant and leader in arts, culture, and the creative economy with nonprofits, higher education institutions, philanthropy, and businesses globally. As Deputy Director of Creative West and Senior Strategic Associate at design strategy firm Scansion, he works at the intersection of arts, business, and policy to drive innovative solutions for the creative sector.

At Creative West, he leads advocacy and public policy initiatives, external relations, fundraising, and consulting services across 16 states/jurisdictions and nationally. At Creative West, David has co-developed the Pacific Initiative, co-designed the Arts and the Rural West seminar, directed Washington State’s Creative Economy Strategic Plan, launched the Creative Vitality™ Summit, and authored the Creative Economies and Economic Recovery report with the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies. He also established the Western Arts Advocacy Network, directed significant grantmaking programs, and secured multi-million dollar investments for Creative West.

David serves as Co-Chair of the Creative States Coalition and faculty for Goucher College’s MA in Arts Administration program. He has held leadership and senior management roles at the Arts and Business Council of Greater Boston, VCU da Vinci Center, VCUarts, ART 180, Arts & Business, Nesta (an innovation foundation), BOP Consulting, and the National Campaign for the Arts. A Salzburg Global Fellow and Royal Society of Arts Fellow, he has advised organizations like the National Endowment for the Arts, United States Artists, the Inter-American Development Bank, and B3 Media. He holds degrees in economics and Asian studies from Amherst College and master’s degrees in international studies and art history from the University of London, SOAS.