The National Endowment for the Arts, in partnership with the Housing Assistance Council and with design support from To Be Done Studio, has recently announced their Request for Applications to the Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design (CIRD). Rural communities (population 50k or less) are invited to submit applications to receive design support and technical assistance to host an on-site Local Design Workshop or participate in the CIRD Design Learning Cohort.
Keene and Franklin are examples of New Hampshire communities that have benefited from the CIRD program. In Keene (2022), CIRD engaged residents to guide the design of public spaces that link existing cultural projects and spaces to fulfill a vision of a comprehensive arts corridor, improve parking, and transform the area into an economically viable, connected, and active downtown. In Franklin (2015), CIRD focused on the development of affordable and accessible housing for all ages, building quality public spaces, cleaning up the riverfront, coordinating downtown improvement, and encouraging new, diverse businesses to open. The Franklin process contributed to the development of Mill City Park, a downtown-based whitewater adventure park that opened in 2021.
Important Dates
- Wednesday, March 22, 2023—Informational Webinar. Registration is required.
- Tuesday, April 11, 2023, 12:00-5:00pm ET—Virtual Office Hours
- Friday, April 21, 2023, 11:59pm ET—Application closes
For more information check out the CIRD Request for Applications.
