Recent SEMAC Grant Awards

On May 13, 2025, the SEMAC Board of Directors awarded $345,985 in arts programming grants to nonprofit organizations and schools throughout Southeastern Minnesota. This includes eighteen legacy grants to arts organizations for $180,000, sixteen legacy grants to non-arts groups for $79,710, seven programming grants to arts organizations for $32,100, and eleven small towns/rural areas grants for $54,175.

Recipients are listed by county.

Dodge County

Mantorville Economic Development Authority received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas Grant for Art in the Park 2026.
Mantorville Theatre Company received a $4,890 Small Towns/Rural Areas Grant for All Student Theatre Production.

Fillmore County

Chatfield Center for the Arts received a $4,950 Small Towns/Rural Areas Grant for Technology Upgrades for Arts Access.
Dreamery Rural Arts Initiative received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for Season Programming Support.
Lanesboro Arts received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for Rural Arts Production Training Program.
Lanesboro Community Theater received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas Grant for Production of “The 39 Steps” stage play.
Peterson Committee for the Arts received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas Grant for Arts Blossom in Peterson – Summer Music.
Rushford Area Society of the Arts received a $4,335 Small Towns/Rural Areas Grant for Storybook Theatre – “Three Little Pigs”.

Freeborn County

Friends of the Bohemian Brick Hall received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas Grant for 2025 Annual Czech Fest.

Goodhue County

Anderson Center at Tower View received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for 2025 Minnesota Children’s Book Festival.
Frontenac State Park Association received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas Grant for Prairie Dreams: Trail of Quilts.
Hispanic Outreach of Goodhue County received a $5,000 Legacy Grant for Hispanic Heritage Festival 2025.
Red Wing Arts & Culture Commission received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for Red Wing Sculpture Walk.
Zeitgeist received a $5,000 Programming Grant for Arts Organizations grant for Underwater Cousins.

Houston County

Mainspring received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for Houston County Artist Mentorship Program.
Southeast Minnesota Bluegrass Association received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for August 2025 Bluegrass Music Festival.

Mower County

Austin Symphony Orchestra received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for Celebrating Our 2025-26 Season.
MacPhail Center for Music – Austin received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for All Ages and Abilities Music Programming.

Olmsted County

Downtown Oronoco Gold Rush Days received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas Grant for Live Music at Gold Rush Days..
Eyota Days Committee received a $3,600 Programming Grant for Arts Organizations grant for Little Mermaid children’s theatre.
RNeighbors (Rochester Neighborhood Resource Centre) received a $5,000 Legacy Grant for Chalk the Block 2025.
Rochester New Music Ensemble received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for 2025 RNME Concert.
Rochester Repertory Theatre Company received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for Royalties & Stipends for 2025-26 Season.
Rochester Pops Orchestra received a $5,000 Programming Grant for Arts Organizations grant for Encore: A Second Decade.
Rochester Community & Technical College received a $4,710 Legacy Grant for Spotlight Academy.
Sing Out Loud received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for Celebration of Women in Music.
Shorewood Senior Campus received a $5,000 Legacy Grant for Engaging with the Arts.
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.
USA Dance Chapter 2017 received a $5,000 Legacy Grant for Winter Dance Enchantment.

Rice County

A Great Day Farm received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas Grant for Rooted in Creativity: Art for All.
Faribault Community Education received a $5,000 Legacy Grant for Now is Our Time!
Faribault Parks & Recreation received a $5,000 Legacy Grant for Faribault Concerts in the Park Series.
Friends and Foundation of Northfield Public Library received a $5,000 Legacy Grant for Hispanic Heritage Celebration 2025.
Northfield Union of Youth (The Key) received a $5,000 Legacy Grant for Unlocked Voices.
Rice County Neighbors United received a $5,000 Legacy Grant for Celebrating Latina and Latino Culture.
South Central Minnesota Studio ARTour received a $5,000 Programming Grant for Arts Organizations grant for Studio ARTour 2025.
Three Links Care Center received a $5,000 Legacy Grant for Folk & Bluegrass Music for Care Centers.

Steele County

Owatonna Symphony Orchestra received a $5,000 Programming Grant for Arts Organizations grant for Cool Classics – Beethoven, Beatles, Jazz.

Wabasha County

WideSpot Performing Arts Center & Community Project received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for 2025 Fall – Wabasha Cultural Project.

Winona County

Art of the Rural received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for Spillway Gathering.
Frozen River Film Festival received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for The 21st Frozen River Film Festival.
Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center received a $5,000 Legacy Grant for Through reflections, we see ourselves.
Minnesota Marine Art Museum received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for Seasonal Saturdays: Art & Connection.
Project FINE received a $5,000 Legacy Grant for Cultural Arts & Ancestry.
Quince Ensemble received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for McKinley Medieval Songs with Quince.
Saint Charles Public Schools received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas Grant for 2025 St. Charles Fall Musical.
Theatre du Mississippi received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for Write On: A Year of Original One Acts.
Winona Arts Center received a $3,500 Programming Grant for Arts Organizations grant for International Film Series 2025-2026.
Winona Community Chorale received a $5,000 Programming Grant for Arts Organizations grant for Winona Community Chorale Fall Concert.
Winona Dakota Unity Alliance received a $5,000 Legacy Grant for 2025 Winona-Dakota Gathering.
Winona Parks & Recreation received a $5,000 Legacy Grant for Campfire Concert Series 2025 – Part 2.

On March 11, 2025, the SEMAC Board of Directors awarded $127,335 in arts programming grants to artists throughout Southeastern Minnesota. This included one Opportunity Grant, nineteen Advancing Artist Grants, and eleven Emerging Artist Grants.

Recipients are listed by county.

Fillmore County

Robbie Brokken received a $5,000 Advancing Artist grant for Influential Women.
Micaiah McNeilus received a $3,000 Emerging Artist grant for Through the Lens: Fish of the Root River.
Quilters Therapy received a $500 Opportunity grant for Neighborhood Sewcial.

Goodhue County

Kate Bauman received a $5,000 Advancing Artist grant for Surfaces for Sculptural Clay Forms.
Brian Johnson received a $3,000 Emerging Artist grant for Suite for 3 VCRs and Guitar.
Dawn Mikkelson received a $5,000 Advancing Artist grant for Becoming Lake City (working title).

Houston County

Melissa Wray received a $3,000 Emerging Artist grant for Sewing Rural Seeds of Plenty.

Olmsted County

Benjamin Gateno received a $4,380 Advancing Artist grant for Voice Lessons for Enhanced Artistry.
David John Kassler received a $5,000 Advancing Artist grant for Brass5 Performance, Coaching, Recording.
Annie Mack received a $5,000 Advancing Artist grant for Wolves of Impermanence Recording.
Roger Nelson received a $5,000 Advancing Artist grant for Songs for a Time of Endings.
Maggie Panetta received a $5,000 Advancing Artist grant for Love My Neighborhood Week Mural.
Marlene Petersen received a $3,000 Emerging Artist grant for Veggie Santa Picture Book.
Libby Schultz received a $3,000 Emerging Artist grant for Forging Connections.
Barbara Schwenk received a $5,000 Advancing Artist grant for Climate-sensitive Birds in SE Minnesota.
Rosei Skipper received a $3,000 Emerging Artist grant for Assembling the Artist.
Christopher Tauzell received a $5,000 Advancing Artist grant for New Amateur Record, 2026.
Ivete Vaz received a $5,000 Advancing Artist grant for O Gaúcho beyond languages/borders.

Rice County

Paul Dice received a $5,000 Advancing Artist grant for Mixed Asian and West Composition.
Martha Larson received a $5,000 Advancing Artist grant for Percussive Techniques for the Cello.
Kent McInnis received a $5,000 Advancing Artist grant for What Lights Our Way.
Scott Roberts received a $5,000 Advancing Artist grant for Lost Heroes of the Imagination.
JC Sanford received a $5,000 Advancing Artist grant for Second Annual Northfield Jazz Festival.
Shari Setchell received a $5,000 Advancing Artist grant for You do not have to be good.
Nat Wilson received a $3,000 Emerging Artist grant for Folklore through Shadow Puppet Theatre.

Winona County

Lisa Becker received a $3,000 Emerging Artist grant for Advocating for Native Plants through Art.
Andy Kranz received a $3,000 Emerging Artist grant for Drawing Fundamentals.
Megan McCarthy received a $2,455 Emerging Artist grant for Surface Currents.
Mike Speck received a $5,000 Advancing Artist grant for Staged reading of BACH AT LEIPZIG.
Elizabeth Tevis received a $3,000 Emerging Artist grant for Experimental Aqueous Surface Design.
La Vonte Thompson received a $5,000 Advancing Artist grant for Finding a Place.

On November 19, 2024, the SEMAC Board of Directors awarded $378,430 in arts programming grants to nonprofit organizations and schools throughout Southeastern Minnesota. This includes one School Residency grant, 34 Legacy grants, eleven Programming Grants for Arts Organizations, and nine Small Towns/Rural Areas grants.

Recipients are listed by county.

Dodge County

Kasson-Mantorville Community Education received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas grant for ABBAsolutely Fab in Kasson.
Mantorville Theatre Company received a $10,000 Legacy grant for Local Playwright Publication.

Fillmore County

Chatfield Brass Band received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas grant for Chatfield Summer Concert Series.
City of Whalan received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas grant for Music in the Bluffs.
Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center received a $5,000 Legacy grant for Stringwood Chamber Music on the Hill.
Peterson Committee for the Arts received a $10,000 Legacy grant for The Arts Blossom in Peterson.
Root River Current received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas grant for Art & Artists II: Storytelling in SE MN.
Wits’ End Theatre received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas grant for Shrek the Musical.

Freeborn County

Freeborn County Arts Initiative received a $10,000 Legacy grant for Arts Initiative Programming Support.

Goodhue County

Big Turn received a $10,000 Legacy grant for Big Turn Music Fest 2025.
Red Wing Arts received a $10,000 Legacy grant for 2025 Poet Artist Collaboration.
Sheldon Theatre Brass Band received an $8,740 Legacy grant for 2024-2025 Concert Season.
Sheldon Theatre of Performing Arts received a $10,000 Legacy grant for Community Performance Residencies 2025.
Zumbrota Area Arts Council received a $5,000 Programming grant for Programming Zumbrota State Theatre.

Houston County

International Owl Center received a $5,000 Legacy grant for 2025 Children’s Int’l Owl Art Contest.
Lanesboro Barn Dance received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas grant for Lanesboro Barn Dance Series 2025.
Southeastern Minnesota Bluegrass Association received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas grant for May 2025 Bluegrass Music Festival.

Mower County

Austin Area Arts received a $10,000 Legacy grant for Emerging Artists at ArtWorks Festival.
Austin Community Band received a $5,000 Programming grant for Summer Concerts in the Park.
Austin Culture & Arts Commission received a $10,000 Legacy grant for Youth Art on Utility Box Wraps.
Summerset Community Theatre received a $10,000 Legacy grant for A Hair Raising Clue – Season 57.
Welcome Center received a $5,000 Legacy grant for Welcome Center Cultural Heritage Events.

Olmsted County

Autism Resource Guide received a $5,000 Legacy grant for Special Needs: Exposure & Education.
Cambodian American Partnership of Minnesota received a $5,000 Legacy grant for Rochester Lantern Festival.
Choral Arts Ensemble received a $10,000 Legacy grant for New Singers & Choral Styles.
Gallery 24 Artists Collaborative received a $10,000 Legacy grant for Art Summer Camp Classes.
Hometown Opera Company received a $5,000 Programming grant for Puccini in the Garden: Gianni Schicchi.
Med City Arts Festival received a $10,000 Legacy grant for Multicultural Stage Programming.
Rochester Art Center received a $10,000 Legacy grant for Extraordinary Elsewhere.
Rochester Chamber Music Society received a $5,000 Programming grant for March 1, 2025 concert.
Rochester Civic Theatre Company received a $10,000 Legacy grant for Regional Premiere of “Waitress”.
Rochester Community Band received a $5,000 Programming grant for Band concerts for the community.
Rochester International Film Group received a $5,000 Programming grant for Rochester International Film Festival 28.
Rochester Male Chorus received a $5,000 Programming grant for Spring Tour 2025.
Rochester Repertory Theatre Company received a $3,565 Programming grant for Bridge Building: Masterclass & Outreach.
Rochester Symphony received a $10,000 Legacy grant for Concerts for Kids in SE Minnesota .
Southeast Service Cooperative received a $5,000 Legacy grant for Young Authors Young Artists Conference.

Rice County

Bridge Chamber Music Festival received a $7,275 Legacy grant for Chamber Music Festival 2025.
Healthy Community Initiative received a $5,000 Legacy grant for Art Explorers.
Northfield Arts Guild received a $10,000 Legacy grant for Second Annual Northfield Jazz Festival.
Paradise Center for the Arts received a $10,000 Legacy grant for Marquee Children’s Theatre Season 2025.
Vintage Band Festival received a $10,000 Legacy grant for August Festival 2025.

Steele County

Hiddo Soor received a $5,000 Legacy grant for Somali Cultural Festival.
Little Theatre of Owatonna received a $5,000 Programming grant for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in Owatonna.
Steele County Historical Society received a $2,190 Legacy grant for Folk Art Workshops.

Wabasha County

Lake City Area Arts received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas grant for Lake City Music Showcase 2025.
Lake City Public Schools received a $3,000 School Residency grant for Beatboxing Saxophone Artist.
Wabasha County Fair received a $2,400 Small Towns/Rural Areas grant for Free local music at the fair.
Widespot Performing Arts Center & Community Project received a $10,000 Legacy grant for 2025 Spring – Wabasha Cultural Project.

Winona County

Bluff Country Studio Art Tour received a $5,000 Programming grant for Bluff Country Studio Art Tour 2025.
Engage Winona received a $5,000 Legacy grant for Creative Community Leadership Incubator.
Frozen River Film Festival received a $5,000 Programming grant for 2025 Film Screening Series.
Great River Shakespeare Festival received a $10,000 Legacy grant for Summer Programs for Youth.
Mid West Music Fest received a $10,000 Legacy grant for 2025 Festival Expenses.
Winona ORC Industries, Inc received a $5,000 Legacy grant for Showing Our Colors 2025.

– – – – – –

On September 17, 2024, the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council awarded $126,065 in arts programming grants to artists and public schools throughout Southeastern Minnesota. This includes two previously-announced School Residency grants, fourteen Emerging Artist grants and sixteen Advancing Artist grants.

Grants to individuals and schools are listed by county.

Fillmore County

Carla Gallina, Chatfield, received a $3,000 Emerging Artist Grant grant for Dances in Nature.
Steve Harris, Lanesboro, received a $5,000 Advancing Artist Grant grant for Creating “Talking Trails” for Lanesboro.
Paul LeDuc, Fountain, received a $5,000 Advancing Artist Grant grant for Painting with water mixable oils.
Stena Lieb, Chatfield, received a $3,000 Emerging Artist Grant grant for Fibers from the Forest and Farm.
Lane Powell, Harmony, received a $5,000 Advancing Artist Grant grant for Welded Steel – Celebrating Manufacturing.

Goodhue County

Heidi Bacon, Red Wing, received a $5,000 Advancing Artist Grant grant for Paving the Way for Pollinators.
Natasha Roozen, Red Wing, received a $3,000 Emerging Artist Grant grant for Explorations in material culture.

Olmsted County

Cassandra Buck, Rochester, received a $5,000 Advancing Artist Grant grant for Emergence.
Kevin Dobbe, Rochester, received a $5,000 Advancing Artist Grant grant for New Media Opera Scenes Creation.
Logan Johnson, Rochester, received a $5,000 Advancing Artist Grant grant for Recording of a Pop Music Album.
Nathaniel Nelson, Rochester, received a $5,000 Advancing Artist Grant grant for Untitled Narrative Short Film.
Samantha Reiter-Johnson, Rochester, received a $3,000 Emerging Artist Grant grant for Through Bees’ Eyes: Floral Perspectives.
Suzanne Szucs, Rochester, received a $5,000 Advancing Artist Grant grant for Photographic Printing and Framing.
Sarah Vanasse Miles, Rochester, received a $3,000 Emerging Artist Grant grant for Chiaroscuro Chronicles.
Susan Waughtal, Oronoco, received a $5,000 Advancing Artist Grant grant for A Brush With Life.
Julie Yost, Rochester, received a $3,000 Emerging Artist Grant grant for Always Leaving.
Riverside Central Elementary School, Rochester, received a $3,000 School Residency grant for Creating Community Through Puppetry.

Rice County

Trina Brunk, Northfield, received a $3,000 Emerging Artist Grant grant for Remembering Our Connections.
Rocky Casillas-Aguirre, Nerstrand, received a $5,000 Advancing Artist Grant for U are the Universe Art Exhibition.
Cecilia Cornejo Sotelo, Northfield, received a $5,000 Advancing Artist Grant grant for The way of tenderness (working title).
Louis Epstein, Northfield, received a $5,000 Advancing Artist Grant grant for Arranging “The Odyssey: The Musical”.
Kate Langlais, Faribault, received a $3,000 Emerging Artist Grant grant for I Am Minnesota (part 3).
Andrew Mazariegos-Ovalle, Northfield, received a $2790 Emerging Artist Grant grant for Conservar es Celebrar.
Wendy Placko, Northfield, received a $5,000 Advancing Artist Grant grant for DS Birch Carlson Eps. 2 Pre-Production.
Judy Saye-Willis, Northfield, received a $5,000 Advancing Artist Grant grant for Sharing the Knowledge.
Jonny Weaver, Northfield, received a $3,000 Emerging Artist Grant grant for (How) Can Cartoons Make You Feel?

Wabasha County

Espoir DelMain, Wabasha, received a $3,000 Emerging Artist Grant grant for Driftless Dance.
Plainview-Elgin-Millville High School, Plainview, received a $1,275 School Residency grant for Dance Intensive.

Winona County

Kathleen Hawkes, Winona, received a $5,000 Advancing Artist Grant grant for Grief & Secrecy Photography Exhibition.
Peter Mutschler, Winona, received a $3,000 Emerging Artist Grant grant for The River Connects Us.
Rachel Pauli, Winona, received a $3,000 Emerging Artist Grant grant for Artistry and urban agriculture.
Margaret Shaw Johnson, Winona, received a $5,000 Advancing Artist Grant grant for Mallory’s Ghost.

FY2025 Awards; 7/2024 thru 9/2024
FY2024 Awards, 8/2023 thru 5/2024
FY2023 Awards: 8/2022 thru 5/2023
FY2022 Awards: 8/2021 thru 5/2022
FY2021 Awards: 8/2020 thru 5/2021

FY2020 Awards: 8/2019 thru 5/2020
FY2019 Awards: 8/2018 thru 5/2019
FY2018 Awards: 8/2017 thru 5/2018
FY2017 Awards: 8/2016 thru 5/2017
FY2016 Awards: 8/2015 thru 5/2016