Neighbor News
Travelnitch to Receive $10,000 Grant from the NEA
This grant will support Big Writers, Little Ears—a program encouraging young writers & artists through a unique peer-to-peer connection.
Monson, MA—The nonprofit organization Travelnitch is pleased to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to receive a Challenge America award of $10,000. This grant will support Big Writers, Little Ears, a program encouraging young writers and artists through a unique peer-to-peer connection.
This grant is one of 262 Challenge America awards totaling $2.62 million that were announced by the NEA as part of its first round of fiscal year 2023 grants. “The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support arts projects in communities nationwide,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “Projects such as this one with Travelnitch strengthen arts and cultural ecosystems, provide equitable opportunities for arts participation, and practice and contribute to the health of our communities and our economy.”
“Big Writers, Little Ears has been in conceptual development for over a year. Now, thanks to this critical support from the NEA, the real work can begin,” said Amanda Renna, Founder & CEO at Travelnitch. “Funding from the NEA Challenge America Grant will help us identify community organizations who share our passion for travel and the arts. This is an opportunity to make deep, lasting connections within the arts community, supporting a diverse group of students who might otherwise go unseen or unheard.”
Big Writers, Little Ears will offer high-school students a chance to hone their writing skills through a free travel writing workshop. Afterwards, students can submit their own short story which may be included in the nonprofit’s podcast, Bedtime Stories for Little Explorers. This audio series gives tiny listeners a window to the world, as presented by these talented young storytellers. Select stories will also be published in a year-end anthology, alongside custom illustrations to be created by student artists.
Individuals or organizations wishing to get involved, should contact Amanda Renna directly at info@travelnitch.org. More information regarding this program is available online at travelnitch.org. Travelnitch is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
For more information on other projects included in the NEA’s grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.
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About Travelnitch
Travelnitch is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit inspiring kids through virtual and real-world travel. We believe it has the power to change lives, open minds, and build a stronger sense of community. From virtual adventures to family travel grants, we are helping kids explore the world in a more meaningful way. By encouraging families to travel, learn, and grow together, we can build a more caring and compassionate global community—one family at a time.
About National Endowment for the Arts
Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that is the largest funder of the arts and arts education in communities nationwide and a catalyst of public and private support for the arts. By advancing equitable opportunities for arts participation and practice, the NEA fosters and sustains an environment in which the arts benefit everyone in the United States.
