Abigail Smith Hanby
Founder and Director

Abigail founded Culture Forge in 2015 after receiving the National Parks Now Fellowship from Van Alen Institute. Abigail is passionate about guiding institutions toward their vision. She has been working in the fields of cultural planning, strategy, placemaking, and design for 15 years as a strategist, designer, and facilitator. 

As a Merit Scholar at Penn Design, University of Pennsylvania, Abigail received a Master in Architecture (MARCH) and Master in Landscape Architecture (MLA). She also holds an undergraduate degree in graphic design and branding (BFA) from School of Visual Arts in New York and a certificate in Urban Planning from Harvard School of Design. Her work has been recognized by the ASLA, Van Alen Institute, Penn Design, and Society of Publication Design.