On May 12, 2026, the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC) Board of Directors awarded $238,495 in Programming and Project Support Grants for Organizations to 28 applicants throughout Southeastern Minnesota. Recipients are listed by county.
Dodge County
• Mantorville Theatre Company received $7,500 for October Dinner Theatre.
Fillmore County
• City of Chatfield received $6,000 for Flow Together: Art and Action for Water.
• Dreamery Rural Arts Initiative received $9,000 for Kids Off Grid: Flourish.
• Lanesboro Community Theater received $10,620 for Willy Wonka.
• Root River Current received $6,000 for Arts & Artists III: Know Your Neighbors.
Freeborn County
• Lake Song Chorus received $4,000 for Singing in the Autumn.
Goodhue County
• Anderson Center at Tower View received $11,000 for 2026 Red Wing Area Studio Tour.
• Honoring Dakota Project received $11,000 for He Mni Can Round Dance.
• Hispanic Outreach of Goodhue County received $6,000 for Hispanic Heritage Festival 2026.
Houston County
• Mainspring received $11,000 for Houston County Artist Support Network.
Mower County
• Austin Symphony Orchestra received $11,000 for Celebrating our 2026-27 Season.
• MacPhail Center for Music – Austin received $10,575 for All Ages and Abilities Music Programming.
Olmsted County
• Calliope Theatre Company received $11,000 for American Idiot 2026.
• Center for Integration and Mediation Services received $5,500 for Somali Community Cultural Night.
• Downtown Oronoco Gold Rush Days received $6,000 for Live Music Oronoco Gold Rush Days.
• Hometown Opera Company received $5,300 for The Miller’s Daughter.
• Rochester Art Center received $11,000 for Contemporary Abstract Painting.
• Southeastern MN Youth Orchestras received $11,000 for Youth Orchestra Coaching.
Rice County
• A Great Day Farm received $6,000 for Nature-Based Arts for All.
• City of Northfield Public Library received $6,000 for Hispanic Heritage Celebration 2026.
• Northfield Union of Youth received $6,000 for Glimpses of Strength.
• Save the Northfield Depot received $6,000 for Concert Series at The Northfield Depot.
Vintage Band Festival received $11,000 for Living History Pageant 2026.
Steele County
• Little Theatre of Owatonna received $11,000 for Pirates of Penzance in Owatonna.
Wabasha County
• River Junctions Arts Council received $11,000 for The SpongeBob Musical.
Winona County
• Frozen River Film Festival received $11,000 for The 22nd Frozen River Film Festival.
• Minnesota Marine Art Museum received $11,000 for MMAM Art & Health Outreach Programs.
• Winona Dakota Unity Alliance, received $6,000 for 2026 Winona-Dakota Gathering.
Recipients were selected through a competitive process with applications reviewed by SEMAC’s Art Advisory Panel and scored on three criteria, artistic merit, demand or need, and ability to accomplish. SEMAC congratulates the award winners and looks forward to celebrating the creativity these grants will bring to southeastern Minnesota.
SEMAC is one of 11n regional arts councils in the state of Minnesota, serving Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona counties, including the Prairie Island Indian Community since 1977.
SEMAC activities are made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
For more information, visit semac.org or contact the office at 507-281-4848
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