Our Team
Lynn Osgood, Executive Director
Lynn Osgood is an urban planner and researcher whose work explores the intersection of the arts, planning, civic capacity building. Trained in landscape architecture and urban planning at the University of Virginia, Lynn moved to Austin in 2003, where she became Adjunct Faculty at the University of Texas. In 2011 she started Civic Arts (previously GO collaborative) and led the development of such projects as the NEA Exploring Our Town website, and the ArtPlace America funded Drawing Lines project, and technical assistance services for the LISC/Kresge. Today serves as Executive Director.
BEN MARTIN, POLICY PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Ben Martin is an urban planner who focuses on cultural planning, creative placemaking, affordable housing, and economic development. At Civic Arts, Ben has developed and contributed to arts and cultural plans, engagement, and research for clients such as the Cities of Austin, Bastrop, and Brownsville, and Foundation Communities CDC. Previously, at Metris Arts Consulting, he was the lead researcher and writer for a field scan for ArtPlace America. Ben holds a Master’s of Science in Community and Regional Planning at the University of Texas, where he was a researcher on the “Uprooted” report on gentrification for the City of Austin. Ben is the cofounder of SPACE (“Sustaining and Preserving Austin’s Creative Ecosystem”), a group that advocates for the needs of local low-income arts and cultural spaces.
ARLENE Ellwood, PROGRAM ASSOCIATE
Arlene Ellwood works at Civic Arts as a project assistant while completing her degree in Architecture at the University of Texas at Austin. Specializing in community-based architecture and with a background in engineering, Arlene brings a precision and rigor to Civic Arts mapping and project management tasks. With additional experience in the field of transportation, Arlene holds an undergraduate degree in Architectural Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.
ABBEY JUDD, PROGRAM ASSOCIATE
Abbey Judd works at Civic Arts as a project associate while pursuing her masters in Community & Regional Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. Abbey brings passion and experience to arts and culture in community engagement. Abbey assists with Civic Arts’ local Rundberg and Arts in Sacred Places initiatives. Abbey has her Bachelors of Arts in Urban Studies from Rhodes College.
Natalia Rocafuerte, COMMUNITY ARTS COORDINATOR
Natalia Rocafuerte is a multimedia artist, disk-jockey and organizer in Austin, TX. She obtained a BA in multimedia studies and Art History from Texas State University and mostly dedicates her practice to material research, video and audio installations and illustration. A recent fellow of the 2019 NYFA Immigrant Artist Mentorship, Rocafuerte worked and collaborated with notable community based institutions like BossBabesATX and Mexic-Arte Museum. Rocafuerte also spins with the all vinyl collective Chulita Vinyl Club.
caitin hartnett, program associate
Caitin is an early-career urban planner invested in supporting sustainable, equitable, and engaging community development initiatives. While working at Civic Arts, she has contributed to several arts and cultural plans, as well as research studying the intersections of affordable housing and arts-based community engagement work throughout the state of Texas. She also provides program assistance to the Texas Creative Placemaking Initiative. Caitin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geography from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Master’s in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Texas at Austin.
