Marietta Fire Station, Blue River Trail to partner with IU on new public art and design projects

Fifteen rural Indiana organizations will collaborate with Indiana University for the 2026 Rural Placemaking Studio, working alongside IU faculty and students to enhance their communities through creative design and public art projects.

Launched in 2024, the Rural Placemaking Studio is a collaborative initiative of the IU ServeDesign Center at the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design and the IU Center for Rural Engagement. The studio partners with rural Indiana communities to design vibrant, welcoming and sustainable public spaces that celebrate local identity and strengthen community connections through art.

IU students majoring in comprehensive design and graphic design will work directly with local partners under the leadership of Jon Racek, program director of comprehensive design at the Eskenazi School and director of the ServeDesign Center, and with support from the Center for Rural Engagement team.

“Over the last three summers, the Rural Placemaking Studio has connected Eskenazi School students with people throughout south-central Indiana,” said Peg Faimon, founding dean of the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design. “These partnerships are transformative for the students, communities and leaders, and they result in impactful, beautiful and educational projects that enhance civic pride. The RPS is at the center of our strategic goal to engage our community, state and beyond.”

This year’s community‑identified concepts include public art installations, interpretive signage, parklets, plaza designs, trail enhancements, and early‑stage architectural concepts for historic buildings and community hubs. The studio will guide each project from vision to action, shaping a clear scope of work and producing implementation‑ready designs aligned with each partner’s needs and timeline.

A view of one of the eight remaining Mesker façade buildings in Loogootee, Indiana, one of 15 communities being helped in 2026 by the Rural Placemaking Studio. Photo by Jeni Waters, Indiana University

“The Rural Placemaking Studio helps communities bring their ideas to life in ways that increase connection and local vibrancy,” said Kyla Cox Deckard, Center for Rural Engagement interim executive director. “Rural Indiana’s beautiful, historic landscapes provide inspiration for thoughtful and welcoming designs, and Rural Placemaking Studio projects continue to deepen partnerships between communities and Indiana University that extend beyond the design experience.”

The Rural Placemaking Studio invites proposals from rural communities with populations under 50,000 and located within roughly a 90‑mile radius of Bloomington.

Since its launch, the Rural Placemaking Studio has collaborated with 25 rural Indiana organizations in 19 counties to develop 30 community-guided placemaking projects. 

This year’s partners and projects are:

• Community Action Leading Loogootee in Martin County: A kiosk and window clings will be designed to support the Mesker Walking Tour and highlight the Loogootee Commercial Historic District, expanding on a 2025 Rural Placemaking Studio project.
• The City of Salem in Washington County: A new mural installation will be designed for an alcove off the historic Salem Square.
• Eastern Greene Schools in Greene County: Conceptual designs will be developed for a new public space on 28 acres near the school campus.
• Decatur County Community Garden: Enhancements will be designed to expand the community garden, including shaded areas, raised beds and signage.
• Heartland Artists in Marshall County: A small park and public art installation will be designed at the intersection where four historic byways converge in downtown Plymouth.
• The University of Southern Indiana’s Historic New Harmony in Posey County: Improvements to Church Park and Maclure Square will enhance interpretation, gathering spaces and connectivity.
• Blue River Community Foundation, Marietta Fire Station in Shelby County: A community gathering space with a pavilion and landscaping will be designed at the Marietta Fire Station.
• Blue River Community Foundation, Blue River Trail in Shelby County: Enhancements along the Blue River Trail will include improved seating, wayfinding and interpretive signage.
• The Heart of Lebanon in Boone County: A plaza will be expanded by activating an adjacent street for event and market use.
• The City of Bluffton in Wells County: Concepts for public art installations will be designed to activate the downtown plaza and strengthen the community’s emerging arts initiative.
• The Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand in Dubois County: Drawings and conceptual designs will be developed for the renovation of one floor of the historic annex to support future community-serving uses.
• Cannelton Grows Inc. in Perry County: Conceptual designs will reimagine the main floor of a former school to support a new community hub focused on local food, wellness and entrepreneurship.
• Clarksville Historic Preservation Commission in Clark County: Interpretive signage will be designed for the new Lincoln Park Trail trailhead, including directional and historical displays that share the story of Clarksville’s historic Black neighborhood.
• Heart of Jasper in Dubois County: Wayfinding and welcome signage will guide visitors and highlight Jasper’s downtown attractions.
• Main Street Greencastle in Putnam County: Public‑facing historical displays and digital storytelling elements will highlight downtown Greencastle’s buildings, residents and key events.

The 2026 Rural Placemaking Studio will conclude this summer with a public open‑house showcase.

A future call for proposals is planned for late 2026. More information about the Rural Placemaking Studio and upcoming events is available on the Center for Rural Engagement website.