News from the Trust

On 16 September 2026, Art-Alive Arts Trust lost a remarkable visionary. Dr Bonnie Greer OBE, FRSL, was our patron and a beacon of hope for countless young creatives.

Bonnie's move from the United States to the United Kingdom reflected her lifelong commitment to cultural exchange and advocacy. She dedicated her life to artistic expression, to championing diversity and to empowering the next generation of artists.

As our patron, Bonnie mentored our CEO, Lanre Olagoke MBE, for eight transformative years. Their bond grew into a deep friendship built on a shared passion for the arts. Through her guidance, she encouraged young creatives to find their voices and embrace who they are.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bonnie stayed committed to young people. She worked with Hartwig Fischer, then Director of the British Museum, on the Era of Reclamation project, and visited young people at the American Embassy, showing her belief in the power of art to heal and uplift.

Most recently she was working with Lanre on PAVEMENT, a project exploring lived experiences on the streets. The two were seldom seen apart, and inspired each other's work.

Bonnie's legacy goes beyond her achievements. It lives on in the people she mentored and the lives she touched. We honour her memory and commit to carrying her legacy forward. She will be remembered as a champion of creativity and a guiding light for future generations.

Our founder, artist Lanre Olagoke, has been made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King's 2024 New Year Honours, for services to charity and young people.

Lanre's love of art began at a young age. He saw the canvas as a place to express his thoughts and feelings, and as his talent grew, so did his wish to use it for the good of others.

In 1997 he founded Art-Alive Arts Trust to use art as a tool for social change and youth empowerment. Through workshops, exhibitions and community projects, the Trust has encouraged creativity, self-expression and cultural appreciation in countless young people.

On receiving the honour, Lanre thanked his family, friends and collaborators for their support, and dedicated it to African and diaspora artists and to his late mother, his wife and his two daughters. He restated his commitment to using art to bring people together and build understanding.

The honour recognises the power of art to change lives, and the legacy of those who use their talents for the good of others.

We're starting 2026 with a bang: Art-Alive is partnering with the Affordable Art Fair in Battersea.

More details are coming soon.

From the trustees and Lanre Olagoke MBE, Artistic Director and Founder.

As we step into 2026, we thank our supporters, partners, volunteers and beneficiaries who have been with us through the challenges and successes of the past year.

The last year tested our resilience, but it also strengthened our belief in the power of creativity to heal, uplift and inspire. We enter this new chapter determined to reach more people, secure vital funding and improve the programmes that support young people and vulnerable communities.

Every stroke of paint, every crafted design and every shared artistic experience can change a life. We have exciting projects lined up, from expanding our outreach to showing inspiring work in new public exhibitions.

Thank you for being part of the Art-Alive family. We wish you a joyful, prosperous and art-filled 2026.