Heartland Sings to Receive Challenge America Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts

FORT WAYNE — Heartland Sings, a local nonprofit organization, is pleased to announce that the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has awarded them a Challenge America grant of $10,000.

This grant will support Heartland Sings’ mission, which is to change the lives of participants and patrons through song. Specifically, this grant will allow their ART-V, a traveling RV that brings performances to its audience, to expand its reach to more rural areas. Heartland Sings entertains and enriches audiences within a 250-mile radius of Fort Wayne with the purpose of serving as a professional and educational resource for the vocal arts, cultivating a community of artistic and cultural appreciation, and providing performance opportunities to area vocalists and instrumentalists.

As part of the recent announcement of the fiscal year 2025 grants, the NEA will award 272 Challenge America grants nationwide totaling $2,720,000.

“The NEA is proud to continue our nearly 60 years of supporting the efforts of organizations and artists that help to shape our country’s vibrant arts sector and communities of all types across our nation,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “It is inspiring to see the wide range of creative projects taking place, including at Heartland Sings.”

“We are beyond thankful for this generous opportunity,” said Maestro Robert Nance. “Our team works so hard every day and this grant allows us to continue to enrich lives through music. We are more than honored to be recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts and we remain committed to cultivating creativity in Fort Wayne and beyond.”