[MainstreetTowns] Announcing Fieldwork! Would you help share?

[Lynda Ozan]

Good evening to my partners in preservation,
As all of you have recently had Federally declared disasters, I am forwarding the announcement below in case you know of a rural community that can use planning and design assistance. rfa.pdf<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/ruralandproud.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/rfa.pdf__;!!NZFi6Pppv9YRQw!vJH9FQvfC1eVaGosZ4wROhoe86ETrqb0kQLSRMq-n6VRN5oe2pnX03tm0FfTiF8F5OlA_3zoPndxLtMqFFHzDynXy3QeXw$>
Deadline:  March 27, 2026.

Please share with your networks.




A National Endowment for the Arts colleague has started a program with Mellon funding to support design thinking and planning in rural areas. I wanted to share information on it with you. It's functioning much like the NEA's Citizen's Institute on Rural Design did, and they are very interested in working with communities during disaster recovery.

Building Common Ground: Fieldwork<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.bcg.studio/__;!!NZFi6Pppv9YRQw!vJH9FQvfC1eVaGosZ4wROhoe86ETrqb0kQLSRMq-n6VRN5oe2pnX03tm0FfTiF8F5OlA_3zoPndxLtMqFFHzDymdkGysUg$> is now open for applications. It's a national program offering pro bono design and development support to rural and Tribal communities working on place-based, humanities-centered projects, often early-stage, often community-led, and often under-resourced.

Fieldwork grew out of our experience working on the Citizens' Institute on Rural Design, where we consistently heard from rural and Tribal leaders who had strong ideas, but limited access to the design, planning, and development support needed to move them forward.

If you know a rural community, cultural organization, or local leader who's been carrying an idea and needs support to move it forward, we'd be grateful if you'd help spread the word.

Here are a few ways to learn more or share:

* Program overview / RFA summary: https://ruralandproud.org/rfa/<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/ruralandproud.org/rfa/__;!!NZFi6Pppv9YRQw!vJH9FQvfC1eVaGosZ4wROhoe86ETrqb0kQLSRMq-n6VRN5oe2pnX03tm0FfTiF8F5OlA_3zoPndxLtMqFFHzDyndyHpbhg$>

* Full RFA + application: https://ruralandproud.org/rfafull/<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/ruralandproud.org/rfafull/__;!!NZFi6Pppv9YRQw!vJH9FQvfC1eVaGosZ4wROhoe86ETrqb0kQLSRMq-n6VRN5oe2pnX03tm0FfTiF8F5OlA_3zoPndxLtMqFFHzDylGB2yyFA$>



Happy Monday!

Eleanor



Eleanor Billington

Civic Partnerships Manager | Partnership Division

National Endowment for the Arts

400 7th Street SW | Washington DC 20024

billingtone at arts.gov<mailto:billingtone at arts.gov> | 202-682-5728 (p) | 202-682-5669 (fax)

[cid:ii_19c0ba129284cff311]

Learn more about the arts in your community at arts.gov<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.arts.gov/__;!!NZFi6Pppv9YRQw!vJH9FQvfC1eVaGosZ4wROhoe86ETrqb0kQLSRMq-n6VRN5oe2pnX03tm0FfTiF8F5OlA_3zoPndxLtMqFFHzDyl9xqiKvw$>


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