Ola David - CEO of Sustainable Artist.
- Isobel Arden
- Sep 11
- 3 min read
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Meet Ola David, the woman enabling artists to further their skills.
In this interview, Mark invited Ola to create her own fantasy cultural year from the answers to some easy questions where there are no wrong answers. Enjoy her journey below.
Dolapo Suzan Olamide David — or just Ola David, as everyone calls her — is the unstoppable force behind Sustainable Artist C.I.C., a Leeds-based social enterprise helping artists get beyond the starving-artist stereotype. She’s also CEO of Sustainable Green Globe Ltd, proving that art and eco-thinking can live happily ever after.
What does Sustainable Artist do? A lot more than tell creatives to “believe in themselves.” Ola and her team run practical workshops on everything from building a website to getting into exhibitions, licensing artwork, marketing without cringing, and weaving sustainability into creative practice. They provide mentorship, consultancy, referrals, sales support, and access to networks that most artists would otherwise never get near. On top of that, they work in partnership with organisations like the Scott Creative Art Foundation to give emerging artists exhibition opportunities and real-world visibility.
The mission is simple (but ambitious): to dismantle barriers in the art world, support diverse and underrepresented voices, and make sure creativity is a career path, not a dead end. Ola does this with equal parts professionalism and mischief — she’s a mentor, a motivator, and occasionally the friendly nudge artists need to stop waiting for a “big break” and start creating one.
With Sustainable Artist, Ola David is quietly (and sometimes loudly) re-writing the rulebook for what it means to build a career in the arts — and she’s making sure sustainability isn’t just about recycling, but about building a future where creativity can flourish.
Ola's Fantasy Cultural Year ... with a magic wand and time machine at hand.
🌍 Fantasy Cultural Year
Ola imagines a dream project: a year of first-class travel, interviewing artists worldwide to map out global support systems.
🎨 Art & Creativity
Artists need a unique “picture hook” to stand out.
Art shapes everyday life — from fashion and cars to Apple design and the Tube map.
England praised for strong arts funding and even prescribing gallery visits!
💃 Travels & Culture
Stops include London, Venice, Paris, and New York — with belly dancing, tennis, immersive Van Gogh, theatre, and music along the way.
🤖 AI & Perspective
AI reuses human creativity; true innovation comes from childlike curiosity.
🌟 Dream Encounters
Highlights: Michael Jackson’s never-happened concert and a “hero lunch” with Tina Turner.
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Mark Walmsley FRSA FCIM AGSM
Chief Culture Vulture
Arts & Culture Network
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Chief Culture Vulture
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