The Atlanta Regional Commission’s new Culture and Community Design program welcomes applicants for the 2023 cohort. The program is designed to advance arts and culture as an essential part of inclusive and equitable community planning across metro Atlanta.

Over seven months starting in February 2023, two community-based organizations and 25 individuals will work together to address community needs through culture-focused planning and design initiatives.

Community organizations should propose a particular challenge or opportunity they will address, as well as outline desired outcomes. The application deadline for organizations is Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022.

Interested individuals should have demonstrated experience or interest in the arts and culture, local government, or civic or community planning and design. The application deadline for individuals is Friday, Nov. 18, 2022.

“The Culture and Community Design program will do critical work to celebrate our region’s diverse communities through arts and culture,” said Marian Liou, Director of Community Engagement and the Arts at the Atlanta Regional Commission. “By creating a collaborative environment between planners, culture bearers, and historically marginalized community members, the program will help shape equitable design processes for years to come.”

ARC will host virtual information sessions on October 13, 20, and 27:

Information Sessions for Community-Based Organizations:

• Thursday, October 13, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Registration Link
• Thursday, October 20, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Registration Link

Information Session for Individuals:

• Thursday, October 27, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Registration Link

Organizations and individuals selected to participate will be notified by the end of the year and announced publicly in January 2023. The cost of the program for individuals is $1,000. Stipends of $1,500 will be awarded to five selected working artists or culture bearers with a civic, social, or community practice.

The Culture and Community Design Program is the evolution of ARC’s Arts Leaders of Metro Atlanta program (ALMA), as the agency continues its commitment to serving the diverse metro Atlanta region by working closely and intentionally with communities that have been previously excluded from local or regional planning efforts.