On September 9, 2025, the SEMAC Board of Directors awarded $75,750 in Individual Artist & Culture Bearer grants to applicants throughout Southeastern Minnesota. This included eleven Advancing Artist grants and three Emerging Artist grants.
SEMAC, a non-profit arts agency, is designated by the State of Minnesota Arts Board as the regional arts council for eleven southeastern Minnesota counties: Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha and Winona.
Grants were awarded to the following artists, listed by county:
- Fillmore County: Liz Bucheit of Lanesboro received a $6,000 Advancing Artist grant for Norwegian Silver Tradition in Transition.
- Freeborn County: Susanne Crane of Albert Lea received a $6,000 Advancing Artist grant for Beatrice, Minnesota’s Prima Dona.
- Olmsted County: Terri Allred of Rochester received a $4,000 Emerging Artist grant for Clay Calm: Pottery for Wellness. Jessalyn Finch of Rochester received a $6,000 Advancing Artist grant for Echoes of Dysmorphia. Spencer Johannes of Rochester received a $3,650 Emerging Artist grant for Scaling Project ALCC Research.
- Rice County: Gao Hong of Northfield received a $6,000 Advancing Artist grant for Concerto with Global Music Ensemble. Asuka Kakitani of Northfield received a $6,000 Advancing Artist grant for Northfield Chamber Ensemble Project. Linda Rossi of Northfield received a $6,000 Advancing Artist grant for Creating a Natural History Book. Andrea Turini of Northfield received a $5,100 Advancing Artist grant for Heirloom Fire: Czech Glasswork.
- Wabasha County: Sue Mundy of Wabasha received a $5,000 Advancing Artist grant for Feathered Horizons.
- Winona County: “Doctor Bob” Armstrong of Winona received a $6,000 Advancing Artist grant for Fancy Dancers of The Ojibwe. Charles Kernler of Winona received a $4,000 Emerging Artist grant for Publishing The Stomehouse Chronicles. John Paulson of Winona received a $6,000 Advancing Artist grant for Jazz Concert, Recording & New Work. Lois Peterson of Dakota received a $6,000 Advancing Artist grant for Beneath the Fields.
SEMAC congratulates the award winners and looks forward to celebrating the creative work these grants will support throughout southeastern Minnesota.
For more information about SEMAC’s grant programs, visit semac.org or contact the office at 507-281-4848.
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