Lucas works with creatives, organizations, and communities to empower a more inspiring, inclusive, and equitable arts ecosystem through national best practices, curations, and the integration of policy and strategy through the visual and public arts. His main ethos within all aspects of his work is to find ways to give artists money, space, and time to do what they do best and provide as many opportunities for this to happen in both the public and private sectors. While most of his experience has been dedicated to the enhancement of cities, states and diverse communities through the implementation of public art programs, it is inherent that these types of programs crossover and complement aspects of strategic creative community planning initiatives. More than ever the arts are needed to uplift communities in times of crisis, and to show the strength in creative capital cities have on their front door steps. 

Throughout his professional career, he has pushed the boundaries of public space, placemaking/keeping and cultural programming as Director of Cultural Planning for Creative Arkansas Community Hub and Exchange - Northwest Arkansas; Director and Curator of Public Art for the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy - Boston, MA; Director of Public Art for the Maryland State Arts Council; Senior Curator for both Millennium Park & the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture, and in the many contractual positions related to cultural planning nationally (Chicago, Maryland, Northwest Arkansas & San Francisco).

Lucas has served on both the Americans for the Arts Public Art Network Council through Americans for the Arts and the board of trustees for the International Sculpture Center. Lucas is a founding member of the Advisory Council for Cold Hollow Sculpture Park in Vermont, Madison Square Park Public Art Consortium, NY, Dean’s Community Advisory Council at Lesley Art+Design, Cambridge, MA, and the Punto Urban Arts Museum Advisory Board in Salem, Mass. Lucas has been practicing in the arts and cultural sector for over 18 years.