To be considered eligible for the Rural Placemaking Studio, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Projects must enhance or create a public space. The project site must be a public space and accessible to the greater community. If it is not currently accessible, please indicate in your application how you plan to make it accessible.
- Applications are open to both nonprofit organizations and groups without nonprofit designation. You do not need to be a 501c3, 501c6, or other type of nonprofit to apply! However, we do request that you work with a formal volunteer network or resident committee that was established before completing an application.
- This can include—but is not limited to—Main Street committees, volunteer groups, chambers of commerce, local government and municipal organizations, federally recognized tribal organizations, nonprofit community organizations, arts organizations, member cooperatives, and other resident-led groups.
- This program is designed for rural communities of 50,000 people or fewer.
- Preference is given to Indiana communities within a roughly 90-mile radius from Bloomington.
- A designated group leader or project manager must submit an application that illustrates the main ideas and designates who will be responsible for overseeing the project.
- The community group, organization, or project manager must be available for Rural Placemaking Studio events and site visits with IU students and faculty. The community partner will be expected to assist in scheduling community planning sessions when needed.
We are seeking applicants who:
- Are committed to equity within their project ideas and community engagement practices and undertake consistent engagement with underserved groups, individuals, and communities.
- Have the capacity to host meetings, community site visits, and receive technical assistance from the Rural Placemaking Studio staff.
- Align with the program goals.
- Propose a design challenge or project that is relevant to and benefits the local community.
- Demonstrate a desire to learn and share positive experiences with IU students, faculty, and other program participants.
- Show enthusiasm for tackling community challenges.
- Commit to seeking long-term, sustainable solutions through public design.
Seek input from the wider community before submitting their application.
Below is a general overview of the Rural Placemaking Studio’s timeline, program milestones, and deliverables.
November 2024-January 2025 APPLICATION PERIOD | Applications open November 8, 2024, and close January 17, 2025. |
February ACCEPTANCE | Rural Placemaking Studio staff will select ten communities for the 2025 Rural Placemaking Studio cohort and announce the finalists in early February. |
February COMMUNITY READINESS ASSESSMENT | Selected community partners have the opportunity to meet with Rural Placemaking Studio staff to talk about program goals, set milestones, and schedule community planning sessions. |
March-April COMMUNITY PLANNING SESSIONS | Optional: Rural Placemaking Studio staff will co-facilitate a community planning session if additional community input is needed. |
May IU RURAL CONFERENCE MEET AND GREET | You are invited to the Rural Placemaking Studio Meet and Greet on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, during the IU Rural Conference. Join us for a full day of inspiring talks, workshops, and networking opportunities focused on placemaking. Full participation in the conference (May 12–13) is encouraged, and scholarships are available to help cover costs. |
June
SITE VISITS WITH STUDENTS AND FACULTY | Rural Placemaking Studio staff will coordinate site visits during the week of June 16, 2025. Each community will be asked to host one visit lasting about an hour. |
June–July FEEDBACK AND REVIEW SESSIONS | Draft designs will be circulated to community partners via email. Partners will be responsible for collecting feedback from stakeholders within one week of receiving the draft.
Two drafts will be shared for revisions before partners receive the final design by early August. |
June-July FOLLOW-UP MEETINGS AND VISITS | Follow-up visits will focus on community partner goals, needs, and planning sessions, scheduled as needed. |
July FINAL DRAFT APPROVAL | Design teams will submit their final designs, with one final round of revisions by the end of July. Community partners will receive all deliverables before the Community Design Showcase in late August. |
August COMMUNITY DESIGN SHOWCASE AND OPEN HOUSE | In late August, the IU Center for Rural Engagement will host a final celebration event in Bloomington to showcase final designs. This is a public, open-house style event. |
September-October RURAL PLACEMAKING STUDIO WORKSHOPS | Join us for a series of online workshops led by placemaking experts on best practices in funding, maintenance, and planning for projects in public spaces. Exact dates to be announced. |
September-December PROJECT CONTINUATION SUPPORT | Meet with Rural Placemaking Studio staff for additional planning support, resourcing, and project development as you and your community work toward implementation. |
Program Leadership
- Jon Racek, Program Director & Senior Lecturer, Comprehensive Design, IU Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design
- Nicole Vasconi, Quality of Place Liaison, Center for Rural Engagement
IU Center for Rural Engagement
The Center for Rural Engagement is reimagining the relationship between universities and rural communities.
Our center calls on the research, expertise, teaching, and service of IU Bloomington faculty, staff, and students to address the challenges Indiana communities face and to enhance opportunities in collaboration with communities. We are leading new pathways to partnerships between non-land-grant, research institutions and rural communities.
ServeDesign Center
The Indiana University ServeDesign Center works in partnership with campus and community to advance engaged scholarship and prepare students for lifelong civic and social responsibility in an increasingly diverse and complex global society.
Working with stakeholders on the local, regional, national, and international levels, with a particular focus on regional and international stakeholders, ServeDesign facilitates collaboration within the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design by offering faculty grants, service-learning training, and match-making through pairing faculty and community partners.
Here is the information you will need to apply:
- Organization or community group
- Email address
- Type of organization (non-profit, school, government, designated Main Street group, volunteer committee, block or neighborhood association, small business, member co-op, other)
- Brief overview of your group's history and mission
- Brief summary of your proposed project
- Individuals involved in the project
- Definition of success for the project
- The potential impact of the project, including who will benefit and how
- Information on how you will consult and involve community members beyond the project team, especially those who are underserved or face barriers to accessible, safe public spaces and activities
- Projects involving a public space, building, or larger area for public art will need to define how they plan to use the project site after it is completed, including possible activities, events, or performances
- Community assets that might help you build or fabricate your project
- Potential funders to support the project
- Project category (pre-architectural design, schematic design for public spaces, public art, main street signage, creative placemaking)
- Address of the proposed project site
- Special conditions or circumstances that will enhance or challenge the implementation of the project
- Site photos, if applicable
The application will have space to share additional information and submit questions.
