Workshops
Expand your skills and knowledge with SEMAC’s workshop offerings designed for southeastern Minnesota’s creative community. Our Grants & Funding Workshops provide step-by-step guidance through SEMAC’s funding opportunities, while our Artist Business Skills Workshop Series—offered through our exciting new partnership with Springboard for the Arts—covers essential topics like career planning, time management, and portfolio development. Additionally, our Organization Skills Workshop Series offers capacity-building resources specifically designed for arts organizations and nonprofits.
SEMAC Grants & Funding Workshops
SEMAC Grant Workshop for Artists & Culture Bearers in the Schools
Tuesday, August 19 | 6-8:30p via Zoom
SEMAC Executive Director Anastasia Shartin and Outreach & Accessibility Manager Sharon Mansur will guide participants through this $2,000 to $4,000 grant opportunity to provide students with opportunities to work directly with artists and culture bearers during the school day. The workshop will cover program guidelines, application strategies, and provide a step-by-step walkthrough of the application process.
The lead applicant for this grant can either be an individual artist or culture bearer living in the SEMAC region or the school in which the residency will take place. Grant activities must supplement the school’s arts curriculum and not be a substitute for these basic requirements.
Applications for the 2025-26 will be awarded until available funds run out. Applicants who submit by August 1 will be notified in early September. Applicants who submit by October 1 will be notified in mid-November. And applicants who submit by December 1 will be notified in mid-January.
Registration required. Contact sharon@semac.org or (507) 281-4848, 711 TTY with questions or accessibility needs.
SEMAC Grant Workshop for Programming and Project Support for Organizations
Wednesday, August 27 | 6-8:30p via Zoom
Join SEMAC for a free virtual workshop via Zoom to learn about SEMAC’s Programming and Project Support for Organizations grants supporting arts creation, performance, publication, and exhibition in southeastern Minnesota.
SEMAC Executive Director Anastasia Shartin will guide participants through these $5,000 presenter/production assistance grants. The workshop will cover eligibility requirements, application best practices, and offer a step-by-step walkthrough of the application process.
Programming Grants fund activities directly involved in bringing arts experiences to southeastern Minnesota communities. Recipients may reapply annually once previous grant activities are complete. The next Programming and Project Support grant application opens September 1, 2025 with a submission deadline of September 30, 2025.
Registration required. Contact sharon@semac.org or (507) 281-4848, 711 TTY with questions or accessibility needs.
Artist Business Skills Workshop Series in Partnership with Springboard for the Arts
SEMAC is excited to partner with Springboard for the Arts to offer their Work of Art: Business Skills for Artists workshop series virtually for individual artists and culture bearers living in SEMAC’s region.
Springboard’s Work of Art: Business Skills for Artists is a professional development curriculum designed to teach business skills to artists and culture bearers in all disciplines – visual, performing and literary arts. It starts with career planning and moves through topics like pricing, marketing, funding, and business plans. Work of Art can be helpful if you are just starting your creative career, or if you need a refresher as you advance your work.
These fall workshops are all FREE to attend, and you can sign up for one, two, or all three. Please note that these sessions will not be recorded. Automated Zoom captions will be available.
Contact sharon@semac.org, (507) 281-4848, 711 TTY with questions or accessibility needs.
Career Planning
Wednesday, September 3, 2025 | 6p-9p via Zoom
Where do you want to be both artistically and professionally? Learn how to define your values, identify key choices and develop a plan to achieve your career goals.
Time Management
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 | 6p-9p via Zoom
Discover analytical and tool-based approaches to manage your time. These tools will help you tackle hurdles related to efficiency, flexibility, and structure to help you reach your artistic goals.
Portfolio Kit
Wednesday, November 5, 2025 | 6p-9p via Zoom
Your portfolio is the core of your promotional material and professional calling card. Focus on the essential elements: sharpening your artist statement, tailoring your artistic resume, and curating and formatting your work samples.
Springboard’s Work of Art: Business Skills for Artists curriculum is available as a free workbook (in English and Spanish) and downloadable from the Springboard for the Arts website as a helpful reference during or after the workshops.
For more about Springboard’s Work of Art program: springboardforthearts.org/professional-growth/work-of-art-program/
Organization Skills Workshop Series
Professional development workshops for arts organizations coming soon!
Check back for updates on skill-building opportunities for nonprofits.