Volunteers mount Heartland Arts auction to raise wildfire relief funds for Nebraska residents

A community-organized art auction to benefit wildfire-affected Nebraskans will be held at the Prairie Art Center this Saturday, organizers told the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners on April 13.

Organizer Holly How said she has collected more than 80 donated works from roughly 65 artists across Nebraska and beyond and plans a mix of live and silent auctions to handle the volume. “It’s overwhelming,” How said, adding donations have come from as far away as Colorado, Maine and Omaha.

How said all proceeds will be directed to the Nebraska Wildfire and Disaster Fund through an established organization that handles state wildfire relief, and she described plans for donation receipts and an oversight committee to ensure funds reach wildfire‑affected Nebraskans.

Local businesses are supporting the fundraiser: North 40 will provide food and return proceeds to the fundraiser, and other local outlets will publicize the event. How asked county staff to help publicize the event on the county’s official social pages; officials agreed to post event details.

The auction is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. at the Prairie Art Center and organizers expect the event to run longer because of the volume of donated pieces. How invited the public to attend and said she will appear on local radio to promote the fundraiser.

What’s next: Organizers will continue publicity; county staff agreed to share event details on county social channels.