Join the Rural Routes
Design Lab + Studio
Sipp Culture empowers Mississippi’s rural artists, creators, leaders, and cultural organizers to transform their communities through creativity and imagination.
Our Vision: Rooted in Community & Creativity
Here at Sipp Culture, we have been working with a diverse group of local and national artists and cultural organizers to explore the possibility of developing a site of learning and practice for rural artists in Central Mississippi.
This process birthed the idea of the Rural Routes (pronounced “roots”) Design Lab + Studio, which will support learning for artists and community members dedicated to using creativity and imagination to develop, prototype, and enact solutions to pervasive challenges in our region.
Discover Your Rural Routes
Explore the possibilities within the Rural Routes Design Lab + Studio: introductory workshops, immersive learning labs, and a transformative studio experience. Find the path that best supports your growth as a community-engaged artist.
Universal Workshop
As the entry point, the Universal Workshop in Utica, MS, provides foundational skills and collaborative frameworks, uniting participants from both the Design Lab and Studio pathways to spark initial community-engaged design thinking.
Rural Routes Design Lab
The Design Lab provides a dynamic and accessible learning environment with workshops and resources designed to build the capacity of rural artists to address local challenges creatively.
Rural Routes Design Studio
This intensive, cohort-based program supports selected artists with funding, mentorship, and resources to develop and implement their community-transforming design projects over an extended period.
Understand Your Learning Pathways
There’s no single entry point to the Rural Routes Design Lab + Studio. Begin with a focused workshop, dive into our comprehensive Design Lab Learning Pathway, or aspire to the in-depth Design Studio experience. Discover the path that aligns with your goals.
Explore the visual roadmap above to understand the different stages and how they connect. If you have questions about which path is right for you, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Project Director for personalized guidance.
Apply for the Design Studio
This intensive, cohort-based program supports selected artists with $25,000 per year, mentorship, and resources to develop and implement their community-transforming design projects over the course of 2.5 years.
Your Rural Routes Design Lab Questions Answered
Get the clarity you need about our programs, eligibility, and how to get involved.
- Universal Workshop: This is a free, full-day introductory workshop that serves as your initial entry point to the entire Rural Routes Design Lab + Studio ecosystem. It provides foundational skills, sparks initial community-engaged design thinking, and unites participants from all pathways. It’s a great way to learn more about the program and connect with fellow creatives before committing to other components.
- Rural Routes Design Lab (Workshops): This program is a series of training workshops and learning sessions designed to build the capacity of rural artists to address local challenges creatively. These workshops are offered both virtually on our e-learning platform and in-person in Utica, MS. The intensive learning component of the Design Lab totals 40 hours of learning, designed to be directly applied to your current work, helping you prepare your projects to apply for the Design Studio funding and support.
- Rural Routes Design Studio (Intensive Program): This is an intensive, cohort-based program that supports selected artists with significant resources. Participants receive $25,000 per year for 2.5 years in funding, along with mentorship, technical assistance, and comprehensive support from Sipp Culture. This program is for artists committed to creating transformative, community-informed design projects over an extended period.
Yes, the Rural Routes Design Studio is an intensive program that supports selected artists with a $25,000 per year for 2.5 years stipend, along with substantial resources, dedicated mentorship, technical assistance, and comprehensive support from Sipp Culture.
No, registering for the Universal Workshop is not mandatory to apply for the Design Studio.
However, the Universal Workshop serves as an excellent entry point to the Rural Routes Design Lab + Studio, providing foundational skills and sparking initial community-engaged design thinking.
It’s a valuable opportunity to learn more about the program and connect with fellow artists and organizers.
A cultural organizer is an individual who leverages arts and culture to address social issues, build community, and advocate for positive change.
They often work at the intersection of artistic practice, community development, and social justice, using creative and imaginative approaches to solve challenges and empower their communities.
They may be artists themselves, but their primary role is to facilitate and organize cultural activities for community benefit.
We are seeking imaginative projects that are deeply informed by the community the project serves. We’re looking for rural Mississippi artists who use their art and creativity to develop, prototype, and enact solutions to pervasive challenges in their region, fostering lasting change through community-centric approaches.
Yes, projects developed through the Rural Routes Design Lab and Studio are specifically focused on and must take place within rural Mississippi communities. Our mission is to empower artists and cultural organizers who are dedicated to transforming these specific regions through creativity and imagination.
