On November 10, 2025, the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC) Board of Directors announced the awarding of $391,262 in arts programming grants to nonprofit organizations and schools throughout Southeastern Minnesota. This includes two Artists & Culture Bearers in the Schools grants, 24 General Operating Support grants, and 30 Programming & Project Support for Organizations grants.
Grant Recipients by County
Dodge County
- Mantorville Art Guild, 5,000 General Operating Support grant for Facilities & Maintenance.
- Mantorville Theatre Company, $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
Fillmore County
- City of Whalan, $6,000 Support for Organizations grant for Music in the Bluffs.
- Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center, $6,000 Support for Organizations grant for Stringwood Chamber Music Festival.
- Lanesboro Community Theatre, $7,425 Support for Organizations grant for Wrinkle in Time.
- Wits’ End Theatre, $7,350 Support for Organizations grant for The Wedding Singer.
Freeborn County
- Albert Lea Art Center, $4,951.90 General Operating Support grant for Facilities & Maintenance.
- Freeborn County Arts Initiative, $11,000 Support for Organizations grant for Programming Support 2026 and a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Facilities & Maintenance.
Goodhue County
- Bells of the Bluffs Handbell Ensemble, $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
- Big Turn, $11,000 Support for Organizations grant for Big Turn Music Fest 2026.
- Red Wing Arts, $11,000 Support for Organizations grant for The Artist’s Studio Series.
- Sheldon Theatre Brass Band, $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
- Sheldon Theatre of Performing Arts, $11,000 Support for Organizations grant for Community Outreach Residencies 2026.
- Zumbrota State Theatre, $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
Houston County
- International Owl Center, $6,000 Support for Organizations grant for 2026 Int’l Children’s Owl Art Contest.
- Mainspring, $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
- Southeast Minnesota Bluegrass Association, $6,000 Support for Organizations grant for May 2026 Bluegrass Music Festival and a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Administrative Expenses.
Mower County
- Austin Area Arts, $11,000 Support for Organizations grant for Emerging Artists at AAF 2026.
- Austin Symphony Orchestra, $5,000 Support for Organizations grant for Roberto Returns with American Music! and a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
- Summerset Community Theatre, $11,000 Support for Organizations grant for Go Go Go Bee – Season 58.
- Zumbro Valley Chorus, $11,000 Support for Organizations grant for Zumbro Valley Chorus 60th Anniversary.
Olmsted County
- Byron Community Education, $6,000 Support for Organizations grant for Community Art Workshops & Exhibitions.
- Choral Arts Ensemble of Rochester, $10,000 Support for Organizations grant for Singing for Life High School Choral Fest.
- Dover-Eyota Public Schools, $4,000 Artists & Culture Bearers in the Schools grant for 2026 Lake Wobegon Brass Band Residency.
- Olmsted County, $6,000 Support for Organizations grant for Transforming Trash Artist-In-Residence.
- Rochester Area Handbells, $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
- Rochester Chamber Music Society, $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
- Rochester Civic Theatre Company, $11,000 Support for Organizations grant for The SpongeBob Musical.
- Rochester International Film Group, $6,000 Support for Organizations grant for Rochester International Film Festival 29.
- Rochester Male Chorus, $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
- Rochester Music Guild, $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Administrative Expenses.
- Rochester Repertory Theatre Company, $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
- Rochester Symphony, $11,000 Support for Organizations grant for Concerts for Kids.
- Sing Out Loud, $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
- Southeast Service Cooperative, $6,000 Support for Organizations grant for Young Authors Young Artists Conference.
Rice County
- Bridge Chamber Music Festival, $10,235 Support for Organizations grant for Chamber Music Festival 2026.
- International Cello Institute, $11,000 Support for Organizations grant for CelloCentric: Community Connections 2026.
- Northfield Public Schools, $4,000 Artists & Culture Bearers in the Schools grant for Perspectives: How do photos form us?
- Northfield Youth Choirs, $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
- Paradise Center for the Arts, $11,000 Support for Organizations grant for 2026 Marquee Children’s Theatre Season.
Wabasha County
- Lake City Area Arts, $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Facilities & Maintenance.
Winona County
- Bluff Country Studio Art Tour, $6,200 Support for Organizations grant for Bluff Country Studio Art Tour 2026.
- Frozen River Film Festival, $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
- Great River Shakespeare Festival, $11,000 Support for Organizations grant for Summer Programs for Youth.
- River Arts Alliance, $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
- Sandbar Storytelling Festival, $11,000 Support for Organizations grant for 2026 Festival Expenses and a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
- Theatre du Mississippi, $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
- Winona Arts Center, $7,520 Support for Organizations grant for Seven Sundays: WAC Art & Music 2026 and a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
- Winona Creators Collective, $10,580 Support for Organizations grant for Pottery Wheels & classes for Makerspace.
- Winona Symphony Orchestra, $8,000 Support for Organizations grant for 2026 Children’s Concert and a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
The Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC) is one of eleven Regional Arts Councils designated to develop programs and services, and distribute grants to fund arts and cultural programs in their region. Established in September 1977, SEMAC serves Region 10, which includes Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona Counties, including the Prairie Island Indian Community.
Each year SEMAC awards close to $1,000,000 in grants to individuals, arts organizations, and non-arts organizations to support arts and cultural programming. The council also provides services including grant writing support, professional development workshops, networking opportunities, language translation services, resource lists, and promotion of arts and cultural events throughout the region.
SEMAC’s grant programs support a wide range of arts and cultural activities throughout southeastern Minnesota. General Operating Support grants help organizations maintain essential operations including staffing, facilities, and administrative functions. Programming & Project Support for Organizations grants fund specific artistic projects and performances, while Artists & Culture Bearers in the Schools grants bring professional artists directly into educational settings.
The funded projects span the 2026 programming season and represent everything from children’s theater and classical music to community art initiatives and youth education programs.
Organizations interested in SEMAC grant opportunities can learn more about upcoming application deadlines and program guidelines at semac.org. SEMAC is committed to supporting diverse arts programming that reflects the rich cultural tapestry of southeastern Minnesota.
For more information about SEMAC and its grant programs, visit semac.org or contact the office at 507-281-4848.
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