Enhancing the quality of life and economic vitality of rural America through design

Committed to supporting rural America, the Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design (CIRD) helps communities convert their own good ideas into reality.

Architect Jim Leggitt creates sketches for Valentine, NE's Main Street. Photo by Jenny Nixon.

Discussing architectural approaches for Mt. Zion Baptist Church during a workshop in Athens, OH. Photo by Lisbet Portman, To Be Done Studio.

What is the

Citizens’ Institute
on Rural Design?

The Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design (CIRD) is a leadership initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Housing Assistance Council.

Focusing on communities with populations of 50,000 or less, CIRD empowers local citizens to use their unique artistic and cultural resources to guide local development and shape the future design of their communities.

Community members share ideas for Penobscot Avenue during the workshop in Millinocket, ME. Photo by Malorrie Ann Photography.

Cleanup activities along the Gallinas River following a workshop in Las Vegas, NM. Photo courtesy Hermits Peak Watershed Alliance.

Community members in Hidalgo County, TX. Photo by Omar Hakeem.

What we do

CIRD offers competitive funding to host multi-day, community design workshops guided by design, planning, and creative placemaking professionals as well as design-driven peer learning programs and events.

Design Learning Cohorts

Building a network of community leaders engaged in design, across rural America.

Community members discuss their projects at the Design Learning Cohort Summit. Photo by Bella Green.

Touring and talking with local business owners in Thomas, WV, during the Design Learning Cohort Summit. Photo by Bella Green.

Ribbon cutting ceremony at the opening of the Tuttle Rural Innovation Center (TRIC) in Tuttle, ND.

Migrant farm workers in Wasco, CA, discuss affordable housing and community design. Photo by Omar Hakeem.

Local Design Workshops

Supporting small towns and rural communities in addressing local design challenges.

Mural painting in Laramie, WY. Photo courtesy Laramie Main Street.

Learn

Exchanging ideas, resources, and inspiration.

Stories

Explore ideas and experiences

Webinars

See best practices and get inspired

Community resources

Find tools and learn from experts

Featured resources

May 18, 2021

National Endowment for the Arts Supports 19 Rural Communities Through Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design

Four workshops across the country will bring together local leaders and residents with design professionals to work on a local design challenge. The members of the Design Learning Cohort come from 15 communities as diverse as Skagway, Alaska and Manchester, Georgia.

January 20, 2022

Bringing Back to Life a Community Hub in Midway, Alabama

CIRD has been working with the community of Midway, Alabama to transform a shuttered school into a multifaceted community services hub and entrepreneurship center. After engaging remotely, the CIRD team traveled to Midway in early December 2021 for an in-person design workshop with over 70 residents to solidify plans for the Merritt Community Complex.

Streamed on

February 16, 2022

Building Momentum for Your Long-Term Vision

Join CIRD, Emmy award-winning journalist Emily Schmidt, and Jun-Li Wang, associate director from Springboard for the Arts, for a dynamic presentation on building momentum for your community design projects.

Community Resources

Models and Practices for Meaningful Community Engagement Resource Guide

Source: CIRD’s Models and Practices for Meaningful Community Engagement Webinar. Author: Jaime Horter. This crowdsourced resource guide for creative community engagement was created by participants of a CIRD webinar, Models and Practices for Meaningful Community Engagement, led by rural artist Jamie Horter.

The Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design (CIRD) is a leadership initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Housing Assistance Council.