The 2026 Community-Centered Design Class Applications are Now Open
Purpose and Goals
The ARC Community-Centered Design program seeks to advance arts and culture as an essential part of inclusive and equitable planning in communities across metro Atlanta. One way we do this is through an immersive three-month program where community organizations serving underrepresented populations collaborate with local officials and planners to design projects and planning initiatives using arts and culture.
The program’s goals are:
- Supporting the capacity of these underrepresented communities to participate in and lead local and regional planning processes, with ARC as a collaborator and as a conduit to execution;
- Educating and training artists, culture bearers, planners, designers, and local government officials to collaborate on planning and community engagement projects; and
- Establishing lessons learned on inclusive, equitable, and creative planning that we can share as best practices for future implementation.
Program Description
ARC Community-Centered Design brings artists, culture bearers, planning and design professionals, and people working in local government together with community organizations to develop arts and culture-focused community design projects. The program intentionally seeks to include individuals and organizations representing communities that have been historically marginalized or excluded in local and regional planning processes.
ARC Community-Centered Design is designed for early- and mid-career professionals who identify with one or more of the communities described above and have demonstrated experience in community advocacy, organizing, planning, or design.
Participants will have the opportunity to develop and enhance skills that will allow them to design and lead arts and culture-based community design and planning; advance equity and justice in their communities; and build relationships with other practitioners and future collaborators.
ARC’s Commitment to Arts & Culture in Planning
As metro Atlanta’s comprehensive planning organization, ARC is committed to serving our increasingly diverse region by working closely and intentionally with communities that have been previously excluded or harmed by local or regional planning.
Partnering with artists, creatives, culture bearers, and community-based organizations, particularly with those serving underrepresented communities, ensures that the region’s diverse populations, community traditions, and cultural practices are actively included in decisions that affect their lives.
