The Starving Artist

What The Starving Artist does

The Starving Artist is a Glasgow-based non-profit art-activism organization founded in 2017 by Dr. Ally Zlatar to transform lived experience around mental health, identity, and social justice into exhibitions, publications, and reflection cards. Core products include four themed art-based reflection card sets (addressing eating disorders, eco-anxiety, migration, and men's mental health), a Publishing Studio offering editorial, design, and global distribution services on a 50/50 profit-share model with authors, and a catalog of 20+ thematic exhibitions delivered both physically (at venues including the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and Summerhall) and virtually via Artsteps. There is no proprietary technology platform; the organization uses off-the-shelf infrastructure — Amazon KDP and Blurb for print-on-demand distribution in 50+ countries, Artsteps for virtual exhibitions, Google Forms for submission management, and Instagram as the primary community channel.

The business model combines three distributed revenue streams: (1) publication sales via e-commerce marketplaces with 50/50 profit-sharing to authors; (2) sales of reflection cards as physical prints and digital downloads; and (3) individual donations via PayPal and bank transfer supporting the Starving Artist Scholarship Fund for inpatient mental health treatment access. The GTM motion is community-led and event-driven: free global open calls feed an artist pipeline of 2,500+ contributors across 30+ countries, partnerships with advocacy NGOs (Restless Development, ONE Campaign, Climate Coalition, EYCA, UNWomen) co-produce exhibitions, and founder-led TEDx talks and speaking engagements at conferences and parliament drive earned media and credibility. The organization is volunteer- and curator-driven with ~7 core staff, no disclosed institutional funding or revenue, and decision-making concentrated in the founder.

Name

The Starving Artist

Legal name

The Starving Artist

Website

https://starvingartist.cargo.site

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Starving Artist is a Glasgow-based non-profit art-activism organization founded in 2017 that transforms lived experiences around mental health and social justice into exhibitions, publications, and reflection cards, serving 2,500+ artists across 30+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Impact Arts Publishing

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (711510), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Art, Photography & Illustrated Books Publishing (MPAJAAAF), Cover Design, Illustration & Book Interior Design Services (MPAJAJAH), Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking Programs (BPAGAHAH), Literary Arts & Writing Organizations (BPAGAHAK)

Keywords

• Art activism
• Social impact publishing
• Creative exhibitions
• Mental health advocacy
• Community publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Glasgow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Publication Sales: The organization publishes books, exhibition catalogs, and anthologies (both digital downloads and print-on-demand) sold through Amazon, Blurb, and its own website. Titles include 'Belonging', 'This Body of Mine', 'The Meeting Point', 'The Pain of Others', 'Not Another Fish in the Sea', 'The End Times', 'The Body Revolts', 'Care for a Body', 'The Vulnerable Man', 'Break the Silence', 'Lost Bodies', 'Root', 'Blood Stains Like Ink', 'Philosophy of Thin', and more. Authors and The Starving Artist share profits 50/50, paid semi-annually via invoice.
2. Reflection Cards Products: Art-based reflection card sets (The Vulnerable Man, Voices Above Water, Migrant Voice, The Starving Artist/ED cards) sold as physical prints and digital downloads via Amazon, Printer Studio, and Blurb. Cards address mental health, climate anxiety, migration, and eating disorders.
3. Donations and Fundraising: The organization accepts PayPal donations (paypal.me/thestarvingart) and bank transfers. Donations support the youth-led grassroots impact, art-education programs, and the Starving Artist Scholarship Fund which helps people access inpatient mental health treatment. No submission or participation fees are charged.
4. Publishing Studio Services: Authors retain 50% of profits from publication sales; The Starving Artist takes the other 50%. No upfront fees or hidden costs. The studio offers editorial guidance, book design, ISBN registration, global distribution, and optional launch events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Starving Artist is an art-activism organization that produces curated physical and virtual exhibitions, themed publications, and four lines of art-based reflection cards addressing social justice issues including eating disorders, climate anxiety, migration, and men's mental health. It runs a Publishing Studio offering editorial guidance, book design, ISBN registration, and global print-on-demand distribution to authors on a 50/50 profit-share basis with no upfront fees. The organization accepts free global submissions from artists and writers and channels proceeds and donations into the Starving Artist Scholarship Fund supporting inpatient mental health treatment.

Product overview

The Starving Artist is an art-activism organization founded in 2017 by Ally Zlatar that operates as a multi-faceted creative platform. The core offerings include four art-based reflection card products: The Starving Artist Reflection Cards (ED cards for eating disorders), Voices Above Water Eco Reflection Cards, The Migrant Voice Reflection Cards, and The Vulnerable Man Reflection Cards. The organization runs a Publishing Studio that supports independent authors with editorial, design, and distribution services. It produces numerous publications including exhibition catalogs, poetry collections, and books such as Philosophy of Thin and A Seed's Journey. Virtual exhibitions are hosted through Artsteps platform covering themes of disability, migration, gender safety, climate action, and LGBTQIA+ identity. The organization also manages open calls for artists (Home Grown, Where Do We Roam), a Guest Curator/Ambassador program, and the Starving Artist Scholarship Fund for mental health treatment access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Starving Artist Publishing Studio Collaborative publishing service offering editorial guidance, book design and layout, ISBN registration, global digital and print distribution via Amazon KDP and Blurb, and optional launch events. Operates on a 50/50 profit-share model with authors and no upfront fees. Targeted at independent authors, particularly those with lived experience narratives.
• The Starving Artist Reflection Cards (ED Reflection Cards) Art-based reflection card set featuring paintings by Ally Zlatar, designed to support individuals exploring disordered eating and body image issues. Includes 26 cards with prompts encouraging values exploration, cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, and cultural reflection. Sold globally as physical prints and digital downloads.
• Voices Above Water Eco Reflection Cards Art-based reflection card set addressing climate anxiety and eco-mental health. Contains 16 cards with creative arts prompts and reflective questions exploring Indigenous perspectives, intergenerational issues, eco-trauma, and advocacy themes. Sold globally via Amazon, Blurb, and Printer Studio.
• The Migrant Voice Reflection Cards Art reflection and exploration cards for individuals exploring labour migration experiences. Features 12 cards with artworks inspired by migrant journeys and prompts addressing fair recruitment, family separation, vulnerability, dreams, and social integration. Sold globally as physical and digital products.
• The Vulnerable Man Reflection Cards Thought-provoking art cards addressing men's mental health concerns, created by Raunak Singh. Contains 17 cards with prompts for self-reflection on core values, CBT techniques, and cultural exploration. Available in English and Arabic translations. Sold as physical prints via Printer Studio UK and digital downloads via Amazon and Blurb.
• Philosophy of Thin Book by Dr. Ally Zlatar presenting a philosophical exploration of eating disorders, reframing them as complex ethical, philosophical, and cultural phenomena. 118 pages, published 2026. Sold globally via Amazon KDP and Blurb.
• A Seed's Journey

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,500+ artists engaged globally
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EYCA (European Youth Card Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEYCA partnered with The Starving Artist for the 'Rural Revolt' exhibition, amplifying rural youth voices across Europe. EYCA and Young Scot facilitated the exhibition and publication, with EYCA recognizing the project as a winner of the European Charlemagne Youth Prize 2024.
• Young ScotcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-partner with EYCA for the Rural Revolt exhibition supporting rural youth voices. Young Scot provided the platform for engaging young people in Scotland with the exhibition.
• The Ashley Lashley FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the Voices Above Water exhibition addressing climate conservation and eco-mental health. The foundation focuses on climate action and youth empowerment.
• HEY Global Climate FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-supporter of the Voices Above Water climate art exhibition, contributing to The Starving Artist's climate advocacy and eco-mental health initiatives.
• Restless DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting The Strings That Bind Us: Art for AIDS and HIV Advocacy exhibition, helping platform diverse artists and amplify critical narratives on AIDS/HIV.
• ONE CampaignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting The Strings That Bind Us exhibition and the Fragile Planet exhibition, contributing to advocacy work on global health and climate.
• #GenEndItminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for The Strings That Bind Us exhibition on AIDS and HIV advocacy, helping amplify youth voices in the global response to HIV.
• Climate CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for the Fragile Planet exhibition during Great Big Green Week, showcasing climate and sustainability perspectives through art.
• Imaara Survivor Support FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject supporter for The Body Remembers exhibition focused on gender safety and rights, providing support for women survivors.
• European AlternerativesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for This Body of Mine (disability rights) and The Meeting Point (migration experiences) exhibitions, bringing cross-European collaborative perspective.
• DEMOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for This Body of Mine exhibition on disability rights and experiences, collaborating to showcase disabled artists and challenge societal barriers.
• Young European Movement (YEM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Break the Silence to End the Violence exhibition addressing gender-based violence across Europe, supporting young people's advocacy efforts.
• Her Period Dignity (Thailand)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for the Women's Exhibition in Bangkok on menstrual equity, sustainability, and body expression. Also a partner for Blood Stains Like Ink publication.
• With Red (Taiwan)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for period equity exhibitions in Taiwan, supporting menstrual health advocacy through art and creative expression.
• Vending 4 Change (USA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for Blood Stains Like Ink exhibition, supporting period equity advocacy through art-based reflection.
• The Civics Innovation HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner for The Pain of Others exhibition on conflict, humanitarian issues, and the aftermath of warfare.
• Arms Wide OpenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner for The Pain of Others exhibition, contributing to advocacy around conflict and humanitarian themes.
• Green DisabilityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner for the Root exhibition bridging climate action, disability inclusion, and social equity, amplifying disabled and neurodivergent voices in the climate movement.
• International Water Resources Association (IWRA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Root exhibition with Dr. Ally Zlatar serving as World Water Envoy. IWRA facilitated global knowledge sharing on water resources in connection with the exhibition.
• Cultural AlleysminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit project partner for Root exhibition based in Lithuania, operating at the intersection of artistic practice, academic inquiry, and community engagement.
• Team BerthominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner for the Lost Bodies anthology, a youth-led organization documenting life experiences across 81+ countries to foster global peace and inclusivity.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA): Leading US nonprofit dedicated to eating-disorder support, advocacy, and education. Comparable via the Starving Artist's "This Body of Mine," "Philosophy of Thin," and eating-disorder reflection cards, though NEDA is a large clinical-advocacy organization rather than an art platform.
• Butterfly Foundation: Australia-based body image and eating disorder organization providing support and advocacy. Comparable to the Starving Artist's eating-disorder focus and reflection-card products, though primarily a service-provider rather than art-driven nonprofit.

Direct peers

• Creative Visions Foundation: Nonprofit that supports activists and storytellers using art and media to drive social change. Comparable to The Starving Artist's positioning at the intersection of art, activism, and academia, with a similar award-recognized youth-led ethos.
• ArtWorks for Change: Nonprofit that produces art exhibitions and programs addressing critical social issues such as gender equity, climate, and human rights. Closely aligned with The Starving Artist's exhibition-based advocacy model and global thematic focus.
• Visual AIDS: Visual AIDS is a nonprofit that mobilizes art to fight AIDS by supporting artists and curating exhibitions. Highly comparable to The Starving Artist's "Strings That Bind Us" AIDS/HIV exhibition, with a similar nonprofit model fusing art, activism, and community.
• The Body Is Not An Apology: Global digital media and movement platform using art, essays, and community to advance body liberation, disability justice, and marginalized voices. Directly comparable to The Starving Artist's body-image, eating-disorder, and identity-focused exhibitions and reflection cards.

Emerging players

• Self Publish, Be Happy: Curated platform and community for self-published art photography books. Directly comparable to The Starving Artist Publishing Studio's indie art-book focus and 50/50 profit-share model, though commercially oriented rather than mission-driven.
• Artsteps: Virtual exhibition platform used by The Starving Artist to host immersive online galleries. While largely a technology enabler rather than competitor, it represents an emerging alternative channel for running digital exhibitions in the same niche.

Broad incumbents

• Saatchi Gallery: Major London-based contemporary art gallery that hosts large-scale exhibitions on social themes globally. A broad incumbent in the curated art-exhibition space that operates at much larger scale than the Starving Artist.
• Blurb: Global print-on-demand book publishing platform used by The Starving Artist for distribution. As a broad incumbent it competes indirectly by offering self-publishing tools to the same indie art-book and catalog audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/results?search_query=thestarvingartist
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-starving-artist
• Instagraminstagram.com/thestarvingartist.studio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Starving Artist