This activity is 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.
On May 21, 2024, the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council awarded grants to 59 organizations representing eleven counties for a total of $387,630 in funding. This includes 35 Legacy grants for $276,250, thirteen Programming grants for $61,450, ten Small Towns/Rural Areas grants for $48,930, and one $500 Opportunity Grant.
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 for were awarded to the following organizations, listed by county:
Dodge County
· Mantorville Art Guild received a $10,000 Legacy grant for Youth Summer Art Camp 2024.
· Mantorville Economic Authority received a $5,000 Legacy grant for Larger Than Life Art Exhibit 2024.
· Mantorville Theatre Company received a $4,325 Small Towns/Rural Areas grant for All-student theatre production.
Fillmore County
· Chatfield Brass Band received a $4,755 Small Towns/Rural Areas grant for Chatfield "Music in the Park" Concerts.
· Chatfield Center for the Arts received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas grant for Chosen Bean Concert Series, Fall24-Spr25.
· Dreamery Rural Arts Initiative received a $5,000 Programming grant for Flourish Summer Camp.
· History Alive Lanesboro received a $5,000 Programming grant for Time for Women!
· Lanesboro Arts received a $10,000 Legacy grant for Rural Arts Production Training Program.
· Lanesboro Community Theatre received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas grant for Summer Production of musical Oliver!
· Peterson Committee for the Arts received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas grant for The Arts Blossom in Peterson.
Freeborn County
· Albert Lea Community Theatre received a $5,000 Programming grant for Children's Theater Camp.
· Friends of the Bohemian Brick Hall received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas grant for String Quartet Luncheon.
Goodhue County
· Anderson Center at Tower View received a $10,000 Legacy grant for Minnesota Children's Book Festival.
· Cannon Arts Board received a $3,270 Programming grant for Cannon Arts Board Programs.
· Minnesota State Fiddlers Association received a $5,000 Programming grant for Fiddle Showcase.
· Pine Area People for the Arts received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas grant for Gooseberry Jam.
· Zumbrota Area Arts Council received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas grant for 2024 Summer Music in Zumbrota East Park.
Houston County
· Mainspring received a $10,000 Legacy grant for Mainspring Arts Education.
· Southeast Minnesota Bluegrass Association received a $10,000 Legacy grant for August 2024 Bluegrass Music Festival.
Mower County
· Austin Culture & Arts Commission received a $10,000 Legacy grant for Exploring Belonging Through Theater.
· Austin Public Library received a $2,500 Legacy grant for Skateboard Art 2024.
· Austin Symphony Orchestra received a $10,000 Legacy grant for Celebrating our 2024-2025 Season.
· MacPhail Center for Music - Austin received a $10,000 Legacy grant for All Ages and Abilities Music Programming.
Olmsted County
· Calliope Theatre Company received a $10,000 Legacy grant for Kinky Boots.
· Greater Rochester Arts and Cultural Trust received a $5,000 Programming grant for Public Arts - Statues for Equality.
· John Marshall Band Boosters received a $5,000 Legacy grant for Instrument Access for all Band Students.
· Med City Arts Festival received a $5,000 Programming grant for Educational Project-MCAF.
· Music Lessons for All received a $3,735 Programming grant for Sponsoring 3 Students and Showcase.
· Resounding Voices received a $10,000 Legacy grant for Dementia-Friendly Community Chorus.
· Rochester New Music Ensemble received a $10,000 Legacy grant for RNME Inaugural Concert.
· Rochester Pops Orchestra received a $5,000 Programming grant for Ten Year Anniversary Celebration.
· Rochester Public Music received a $10,000 Legacy grant for 2024 Passport Sessions.
· Rochester Repertory Theatre Company received a $10,000 Legacy grant for Royalties & Stipends for 2024-25 Season.
· Sing Out Loud received a $10,000 Legacy grant for Youth Choral Arts Accessibility Program.
· Somali American Social Service Association received a $5,000 Legacy grant for Annual Somali Cultural Festival.
· Southeastern Minnesota Youth Orchestras received a $10,000 Legacy grant for Youth Orchestra Coaching.
Rice County
· Ameriikan Poijat Finnish Brass Band received a $8,940 Legacy grant for Touring Towns with Finnish Heritage.
· Faribault Community Education received a $5,000 Legacy grant for Our Youth, Our Future.
· Faribault Parks & Recreation received a $5,000 Legacy grant for Faribault Concerts in the Park Series.
· FiftyNorth received a $4,810 Legacy grant for Music Programming for Older Adults.
· I Cantanti Chamber Choirs received a $5,000 Programming grant for Underrepresented Composer Commission.
· Northfield Public Library received a $5,000 Legacy grant for Summer Concert Series.
· Northfield Public Schools received a $5,000 Legacy grant for ArtVentures.
· Northfield Union of Youth received a $5,000 Legacy grant for ArTRUST - Building trust through art.
· Paradise Center for the Arts received a $500 Opportunity grant for Access Specialist.
· South Central Minnesota Studio ArTour received a $5,000 Programming grant for Studio ARTour 2024.
Steele County
· Owatonna Symphony Orchestra received a $4,975 Programming grant for Classics for Kids of All Ages.
Wabasha County
· Lake City Area Arts received a $4,850 Small Towns/Rural Areas grant for Lake City Music Showcase.
Winona County
· Frozen River Film Festival received a $10,000 Legacy grant for The 20th Frozen River Film Festival.
· Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center received a $5,000 Legacy grant for Dwelling Print Portfolio Exchange.
· Minnesota Marine Art Museum received a $10,000 Legacy grant for Mississippi Sippin Summer Concert Series.
· Project FINE received a $5,000 Legacy grant for Cultural Arts & Ancestry.
· River Arts Alliance received a $4,470 Programming grant for River Arts Alliance Juried Exhibition.
· Saint Charles Public Schools received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas grant for 2024 St. Charles Fall Musical.
· Sandbar Storytelling Festival received a $10,000 Legacy grant for 2024 Festival Expenses.
· Theatre du Mississippi received a $10,000 Legacy grant for Playwriting Contest & Original One Acts.
· Winona Parks & Recreation received a $5,000 Legacy grant for Campfire Concert Series 2024.
· Winona Dakota Unity Alliance received a $5,000 Legacy grant for 2024 Winona-Dakota Gathering.
· Winona Symphony Orchestra received a $10,000 Legacy grant for Music in the Schools program.
SEMAC congratulates the award winners and looks forward to celebrating the creative programs these grants will bring to southeastern Minnesota.
For more information about SEMAC’s grant programs, visit semac.org or contact the office at 507-281-4848.
