On November 13, 2018, the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC) awarded 65 grants for a total of $342,170 in funding to applicants throughout southeastern Minnesota. This included 24 Arts and Cultural Heritage grants for $216,105, 13 Presenter/Production Assistance grants for $36,280, six Small Towns/Rural Areas grants for $17,765, seven School Residency grants for $21,000, and 13 General Operating Support grants to arts organizations for $50,500.
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 website at www.semac.org.
Grants were awarded to each of the following nonprofit organizations and schools, listed by county:
Dodge County
• Mantorville Art Guild received a $4,000 General Operating Support grant for administrative expenses.
Fillmore County
• Chatfield Brass Band received a $3,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas grant for Chatfield “Music in the Park” summer concerts.
• Chatfield Center for the Arts received a $3,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas grant for production administrative expenses 2019 and a $4,000 General Operating Support grant for staffing and salaries.
• Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center received a $10,000 Arts and Cultural Heritage grant for 2019 Stringwood Chamber Music Festival.
• Lanesboro Arts Center received a $10,000 Arts and Cultural Heritage grant for visual and performing artist engagement program.
Freeborn County
• Albert Lea Community Band received a $4,000 General Operating Support grant for staffing and salaries.
• Albert Lea Community Theatre received a $3,000 Presenter/Production Assistance grant for Summer Musical State Fair.
• Freeborn County Arts Initiative received a $4,000 General Operating Support grant for facilities and maintenance.
Goodhue County
• Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies received a $6,985 Arts and Cultural Heritage grant for In Place: Residency as Artistic Utopia.
• ArtReach received a $4,000 General Operating Support grant for facilities and maintenance and a $220 Arts Management Training grant for conference for community arts education.
• Cannon Falls Community Band received a $1,600 Presenter/Production Assistance grant for community band free to the public concerts in 2019.
• Pine Area People for the Arts received a $3,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas grant for A Steampunk Christmas Carol.
• Red Wing Art Association received a $10,000 Arts and Cultural Heritage grant for Graffiti as an Artform.
• Sheldon Theatre Brass Band received a $5,455 Arts and Cultural Heritage grant for 30th Anniversary Concert.
Houston County
• Lanesboro Barn Dance received a $2,765 Small Towns/Rural Areas grant for 2019 Lanesboro Barn Dance Series.
• Southeast Minnesota Bluegrass Association received a $3,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas grant for SEMBA 2019 May Bluegrass Festival.
Mower County
• Austin Area Commission for the Arts received a $5,500 Arts and Cultural Heritage grant for Kids Visual Arts Education 2019.
• Austin Community Band received a $3,000 Presenter/Production Assistance grant for summer concerts in the park.
• Austin Symphony Orchestra received a $3,000 Presenter/Production Assistance grant for Celebrate Tony Ross.
• Matchbox Children’s Theatre received a $3,000 Presenter/Production Assistance grant for February play Snow White; The Queen’s Fair Daughter, and a $4,000 General Operating Support grant for facilities and maintenance.
• Summerset Community Theatre received a $10,000 Arts and Cultural Heritage grant for Season 52 – The Little Mermaid and Mamma Mia!
Olmsted County
• Art4Trails received a $10,000 Arts and Cultural Heritage grant for Expanding Rochester Public Art Partnerships 2019.
• Art on the Ave received a $1,680 Presenter/Production Assistance grant for Art on the Ave 2019.
• Children’s Dance Theatre received a $3,000 Presenter/Production Assistance grant for The Chocolate Factory.
• Choral Arts Ensemble of Rochester received a $7,000 Arts and Cultural Heritage grant for Annual High School Choral Festival with CAE.
• City of Rochester Music Department received a $10,000 Arts and Cultural Heritage grant for 2019 World Music Mini-Residencies.
• Dover-Eyota Public Schools received a $3,000 School Residency grant for Lake Wobegon Band DEHS student enrichment program.
• Friedell District Wide Middle School received a $3,000 School Residency grant for The OK Factor ATLAS.
• John Marshall High School received a $3,000 School Residency grant for Vocal Pops Ensemble Workshop with Century High School.
• Mayo High School received a $3,000 School Residency grant for jazz workshop, residency and concert.
• Rochester Chamber Music Society received a $3,000 Presenter/Production Assistance grant for three concerts by RCMS.
• Rochester Community Band received a $4,000 General Operating Support grant for staffing and salaries.
• Rochester Dance Company received a $4,000 General Operating Support grant for staffing and salaries.
• Rochester International Film Group received a $3,000 Presenter/Production Assistance grant for 24th Annual Rochester International Film Festival.
• Rochester Male Chorus received a $4,000 General Operating Support grant for staffing and salaries and a $10,000 Arts and Cultural Heritage grant for RMC and Minnesota Boys’ Choir Join Voices.
• Rochester Music Guild received a $10,000 Arts and Cultural Heritage grant for the RMG 55th Scholarship Competition.
• Rochester Repertory Theatre Company received a $4,000 General Operating Support grant for staffing and salaries and a $10,000 Arts and Cultural Heritage grant for Rep Project Rights and Royalties 2019.
• Rochester Symphony received a $10,000 Arts and Cultural Heritage grant for Concert for Area Fourth Grade Students.
• Southeastern Minnesota Suzuki Association received a $3,000 Presenter/Production Assistance grant for music workshops and ensemble compositions.
• Southeastern Minnesota Youth Orchestras received a $4,000 General Operating Support grant for staffing and salaries and a $300 Opportunity grant for String Workshop October 2018.
Rice County
• Bridge Chamber Music Festival received a $2,500 General Operating Support grant for administrative expenses.
• Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra received a $4,875 Arts and Cultural Heritage grant for CVRO Mardi Gras Ball.
• Northfield Arts & Culture Commission received a $10,000 Arts and Cultural Heritage grant for Sidewalk Poetry: New Voices.
• Northfield Arts Guild received a $7,290 Arts and Cultural Heritage grant for We Are Water.
• Northfield Healthy Community Initiative received a $10,000 Arts and Cultural Heritage grant for Opening Doors to Art.
• Northfield Public Library received a $9,000 Arts and Cultural Heritage grant for Northfield Poet Laureate 2019.
• Paradise Center for the Arts received a $10,000 Arts and Cultural Heritage grant for Paradise Children’s Theatre.
Steele County
• Minnesota Association of Community Theatres received a $3,000 Presenter/Production Assistance grant for MACT One Act Play Festival.
• Owatonna Arts Council received a $4,000 General Operating Support grant for staffing and salaries.
Wabasha County
• Plainview Public Library received a $3,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas grant for Acoustic Eidolon Rural Library Residency/Tour.
Winona County
• Bluff Country Studio Art Tour received a $3,000 Presenter/Production Assistance grant for Bluff Country Studio Art Tour 2019.
• Frozen River Film Festival received a $10,000 Arts and Cultural Heritage grant for FRFF Marketing Assistance.
• Great River Shakespeare Festival received a $10,000 Arts and Cultural Heritage grant for Concerts on the Green Series 2019.
• Lewiston-Altura Public Schools received a $3,000 School Residency grant for Harmony Bridge at Lewiston-Altura High School.
• Minnesota Marine Art Museum received a $10,000 Arts and Cultural Heritage grant for Alec Soth: Sleeping by the Mississippi.
• St, Charles Public Schools received a $3,000 School Residency grant for Drawing Part 2 with Mrs G. at St Charles Elementary School.
• Winona Public Schools received a $3,000 School Residency grant for Latin American Folk Tales at Jefferson Elementary School.
• Winona State University College of Education received a $3,000 Presenter/Production Assistance grant for Young Writers Conference 2019.
• Winona Symphony Orchestra received a $10,000 Arts and Cultural Heritage grant for 2019 Winona Area Children’s Concert.