Lacy Austin

Arts education and social justice are at the heart of Lacy Austin’s career path. For over thirty years, she has worked as an arts educator and program administrator in public schools, community centers, and cultural organizations across the United States. Lacy has been the director of Community Programs at the International Center of Photography (ICP) in New York City for the past twenty-one years, leading a department that has served over 10,000 students and teachers annually through onsite and online youth classes and museum education initiatives, as well as offsite through partnerships with schools and social service organizations in underserved communities. The programs aim to foster self and community empowerment through the interdisciplinary teaching of photography, critical thinking, writing, and public speaking­. Prior to ICP and also in NYC, she was the arts in education director at The Children’s Arts Carnival, a visual arts and humanities teacher at the Coalition School for Social Change, and the assistant to the deputy director for programs at ArtsConnection—all roles which focused on the arts as agents for change. Lacy is a member of the Board of Directors of AFRICA’SOUT!, the Advisory Council for CatchLight, and the Photojournalism Advisory Council for The Alexia.