David Holland | Deputy Director | WESTAF

David Holland is the Deputy Director at WESTAF where he guides its advocacy and public policy programs; leads external relations; and spearheads leadership and professional development programming, grantmaking, and technical assistance and consulting services across teams. He is co-directing the development of the state of Washington’s Creative Economy Strategic Plan. Since joining WESTAF, he has also launched the Creative Vitality™ Summit; authored the Creative Economies and Economic Recovery report in partnership with NASAA; chaired the redesign of the National Endowment for the Arts’ Performing Arts Discovery program working with regional and national partners; established the Western Arts Advocacy Network; collaborated on developing new equity-focused relief and resilience grantmaking programs in the West and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; spearheaded WESTAF’s Arts and the Rural West gathering; reimagined its Arts Leadership and Advocacy Seminar; joined the faculty of the National Leaders of Color Fellowship; and secured private and public investment for WESTAF’s programs. Holland previously served as associate director of the Arts and Business Council of Greater Boston. Other prior roles include leadership and senior management positions with VCU da Vinci Center for Innovation, VCU School of the Arts, ART 180, the Latin Ballet of Virginia, Arts & Business, and the UK innovation foundation Nesta. Holland also served as a senior consultant with BOP Consulting and worked as campaigns officer for the UK’s National Campaign for the Arts. Holland serves as the Co-Chair of the Creative States Coalition, a national coalition of citizen advocacy groups and their partners. He is a Salzburg Global Fellow, Commager Fellow, and a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Holland holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and Asian studies from Amherst College and masters degrees in international studies and diplomacy and the history of art from the University of London, SOAS.