Support Thriving Rural Community Partnerships

By Office of the Provost & Executive Vice President - Bloomington

The Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement improves Hoosier lives through collaborative initiatives that unite Indiana University’s resources with communities across the state.

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Initiatives like the Rural Placemaking Studio are strengthening the vitality of rural Indiana by equipping local leaders with the skills, design support, and collaborative networks needed to transform public spaces. Co-led by the Center for Rural Engagement and the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design, the studio builds rural capacity through peer learning, creating a community of practice grounded in creative placemaking, design thinking, and community-led planning. For IU students, the studio offers professional development and community-engaged learning in comprehensive design, providing unique experiences to help them stand out in their field.

Since launching in summer 2024, the studio has partnered with 25 community groups across 19 counties and has delivered designs, schematics, and conceptual layouts for 30 placemaking projects. Projects range from public plazas and parklets to signage systems, murals, and alley activations. We have facilitated dozens of planning and listening sessions, conducted multiple rounds of community feedback for each project, and facilitated design processes rooted in shared decision-making and co-creation with our community partners.

Involvement in initiatives like the Rural Placemaking Studio is just one example of how your unrestricted gift to the center can help us connect students with rural leaders and residents each year to support projects that address health, community resilience, and quality of place.

We are strengthening thriving communities and showing our students that there are opportunities for them in Indiana.

Together, we can create a stronger Indiana. Join us by making a gift to the Center for Rural Engagement that helps Hoosiers thrive.

“In rural communities like ours, small wins can really make a difference.”— Jessica Potts, Executive Director, Martin County Alliance for Economic Growth

Make a gift

By  Office of the Provost & Executive Vice President - Bloomington

The Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement improves Hoosier lives through collaborative initiatives that unite Indiana University’s resources with communities across the state.

More Info

Initiatives like the Rural Placemaking Studio are strengthening the vitality of rural Indiana by equipping local leaders with the skills, design support, and collaborative networks needed to transform public spaces. Co-led by the Center for Rural Engagement and the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design, the studio builds rural capacity through peer learning, creating a community of practice grounded in creative placemaking, design thinking, and community-led planning. For IU students, the studio offers professional development and community-engaged learning in comprehensive design, providing unique experiences to help them stand out in their field.

Since launching in summer 2024, the studio has partnered with 25 community groups across 19 counties and has delivered designs, schematics, and conceptual layouts for 30 placemaking projects. Projects range from public plazas and parklets to signage systems, murals, and alley activations. We have facilitated dozens of planning and listening sessions, conducted multiple rounds of community feedback for each project, and facilitated design processes rooted in shared decision-making and co-creation with our community partners.

Involvement in initiatives like the Rural Placemaking Studio is just one example of how your unrestricted gift to the center can help us connect students with rural leaders and residents each year to support projects that address health, community resilience, and quality of place.

We are strengthening thriving communities and showing our students that there are opportunities for them in Indiana.

Together, we can create a stronger Indiana. Join us by making a gift to the Center for Rural Engagement that helps Hoosiers thrive.

“In rural communities like ours, small wins can really make a difference.”— Jessica Potts, Executive Director, Martin County Alliance for Economic Growth

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Please note, the name and purpose of the fund displayed on this page constitute the authorized description of the fund by the Indiana University Foundation, Inc. Your gift supports the fund as described herein.