On August 16, 2021, the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC) awarded fifteen individual artist grants for a total of $59,000 in funding to applicants throughout southeastern Minnesota. This included eight grants to emerging artists for $24,000, and seven grants to advancing artists for $35,000.
SEMAC is the State Arts Board-designated granting authority for local/regional arts producing and sponsoring organizations and disburses funds allocated for this purpose by the Minnesota State Legislature. The SEMAC region includes the counties of Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona.
For information about the grant application process, eligibility, or grant writing assistance, contact the SEMAC office at 2778 D Commerce Dr NW, Rochester, Minn. 55901 or call (507) 281-4848. Information may also be found on our Web site at www.semac.org.
Grants for original works were awarded to the following individuals, listed by county.
Fillmore County
• Kaley Cross received a $3,000 Emerging Artist Grant for Instinctual Quilt.
Goodhue County
• Cheryl Finnegan received a $5,000 Advancing Artist Grant for Individuals from Pine Island, Minnesota.
Olmsted County
• Joseph Alexander received a $3,000 Emerging Artist Grant for The Grand Drag Legacy of SE Minnesota.
• Terri Allred received a $3,000 Emerging Artist Grant for Transformation through Transitions.
• Michael Anderson received a $3,000 Emerging Artist Grant for Surrender: Paint on Canvas.
• Rachel Brokenicky received a $5,000 Advancing Artist Grant for Illustration of a Children’s Book.
• Curtis Butturff received a $3,000 Emerging Artist Grant for In Visible: Waterways of Minnesota.
• Spencer Johannes received a $3,000 Emerging Artist Grant for Seeking Help Purchasing a Kiln.
• Beth Sievers received a $5,000 Advancing Artist Grant for Encaustic Expansion.
Rice County
• Jennie Autonoe received a $3,000 Emerging Artist Grant for Transformation Poetry.
• Timothy Goodwin received a $3,000 Emerging Artist Grant for Record Album of Original Songs.
• Emery Stephens received a $5,000 Advancing Artist Grant for Sharing the Legacy of Spirituals.
Winona County
• Joy Davis Ripley received a $5,000 Advancing Artist Grant for Un/Masking: Portraits of Mental Health.
• Sharon Mansur received a $5,000 Advancing Artist Grant for Tracings.
• John Paulson received a $5,000 Advancing Artist Grant for 10th Anniversary Big Band Jazz Concerts.