A Rosie Place for Children breaks ground on new art studio 

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- A Rosie Place for Children in South Bend is launching a new initiative- HeARTworks Studio. 

CEO Tieal Bishop says the new facility is designed as a space where children can "color outside the lines," celebrating and supporting the abilities of medically fragile children. 

"HeARTworks Studio was really born out of this idea that art can really break boundaries for these children. We've seen that over the last five to ten years of them just being able to create in different ways. They become treasures that kids get to bring home with their family," Bishop said. 

The 2,000 square feet building will combine traditional art mediums with AI technology and multi-sensory environments, giving children a whole new way to create art.  

With tablets and AI technology, their artwork can be instantly displayed on tv screens on the ceiling—a design feature tailored for children who are often lying down. 

Construction will soon begin as final documents are approved by the state with the project expected to be completed by late summer or early fall of 2025.  

The groundbreaking ceremony will take place this Saturday, Dec. 14, at 1 p.m. on the back lawn of A Rosie Place for Children.  

"A Rosie Place for children is unique in itself since there's not another one in Indiana. And now to be able to have this new space using technology, using outside of the box thinking, it's really a transformational way for them to learn and create. I think it's pretty amazing that we have that in our region," Bishop said.