Southern Indiana Business Report
BLOOMINGTON – Rural Indiana communities are invited to apply for the 2025 Rural Placemaking Studio, a program that connects Indiana University faculty and students with rural residents who seek to enhance their communities through art and design.
The Rural Placemaking Studio is a partnership between the IU ServeDesign Center at the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design and the IU Center for Rural Engagement. The initiative fosters the development of vibrant, accessible public places that are maintainable throughout residents’ lifetimes and sustainable for future generations.
Applications open Nov. 8 and close Jan.17, 2025. Those interested in applying can include – but are 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.
The Rural Placemaking Studio is designed for rural communities of 50,000 people or fewer, with preference given to Indiana communities within a roughly 90-mile radius of Bloomington.
The IU Center for Rural Engagement collaborates with the IU ServeDesign Center to select and match communities with tailored services for their projects. The studio will facilitate community feedback sessions, establish a scope of work and create designs that the community can implement on a timeline that suits the project.
In 2024, the first round of the Rural Placemaking Studio successfully collaborated with 13 rural communities, developing innovative and practical designs for murals, wayfinding signage, architectural and park design and downtown revitalization efforts.
Interested applicants are invited to attend a virtual information session on Nov. 15 or 18 to learn about the program, the application process, and tips for success. The sessions will include a Q&A segment, and attendees are encouraged to bring their placemaking ideas for feedback. More information about the program, how to register for upcoming information sessions, and how to apply is available at go.iu.edu/ruralplacemakingstudio.