VINCENNES — The Pantheon and 16 other rural Indiana organizations will partner with Indiana University for the Rural Placemaking Studio initiative to "design an outdoor seating area and a mural on the exterior of the historic theatre that honors the entrepreneurial history of Vincennes," according to a recent press release.

The Rural Placemaking Studio initiative invited applicants from communities of 50,000 people or fewer to submit potential projects, in which the studio could help create "vibrant, inclusive and sustainable public spaces that strengthen local identity and community ties through art."

The Pantheon shared it has assembled a committee to facilitate this project, and the Rural Placemaking Studio will facilitate community feedback sessions, develop a scope of work and create designs for implementation on a timeline that aligns with the project.

The studio will also offer dedicated support and technical assistance that empowers residents to bring their vision to life.

"The IU Rural Placemaking Studio makes community heritage, hopes and dreams visual and tangible,” said IU Center for Rural Engagement Executive Director Denny Spinner in the press release. “All rural communities have something that makes them special, and the IU Rural Placemaking Studio helps residents create connection around their unique assets.”

Working with the IU ServeDesign Center at the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design, the Rural Placemaking Studio "enhances quality of place within communities by facilitating partnerships with expert IU faculty and students in comprehensive design, creative placemaking, and community arts engagement to uncover, link and leverage unique assets identified by residents."

"We are honored to be selected for the Rural Placemaking Studio’s initiative,” said Pantheon CEO Nichole Like in the press release. “This project is about more than just beautifying The Pantheon’s exterior. It’s about celebrating Vincennes’ rich history of entrepreneurship.

We’re excited to see this vision come to life and to continue making The Pantheon a vibrant hub for innovation, culture, and community."
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