Application Requirements

Review the specific application requirements for your grant category to ensure you submit a complete and competitive application.

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Application Requirements for Individual Artists & Culture Bearers

Basic Application Requirements

All individual artist applicants must submit:

• Work Samples demonstrating your artistic practice
• For those whose work isn’t represented on social media, a limited number of work samples may be uploaded to the application
• A Proposal Narrative addressing the three SEMAC Review Criteria
• An itemized list of total expenses for the proposed project
• All final reports from previous SEMAC grants must be submitted and approved before applying

Project Requirements

• All grant activities must take place within Minnesota
• The proposal must include an accessible public engagement component to benefit citizens of the SEMAC Region
• Virtual programming components are allowed, but the public event must be in person
• Verification from the host organization that the public event has been scheduled and the venue is ADA compliant must be received by the Final Submission Deadline
• Start Date must be at least 90 days after the Final Submission Deadline, with an End Date within twelve months
• No publicity pertaining to the project may be produced before the Start Date
• No grant-related expenses may be incurred before the Start Date or after the End Date

Budget Requirements

• Budgets with Disallowed Expenses will be disqualified
• If total expenses exceed the grant amount, applicants will be asked about plans to cover the difference
• Fees paid to public event venues cannot exceed 10% of the funds requested from SEMAC
• All budget calculations must be accurate (mathematical errors will disqualify applications)

Application Process

• Applications that do not meet requirements will not advance to the review stage9
• Applications may be submitted up to 30 days prior to the deadline
• Applications will not be accepted after the deadline
• SEMAC will not accept late applications or emails confirming public events, regardless of whether a deadline falls on a weekend

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Application Requirements for Arts Organizations

Basic Application Requirements

All arts organization applicants must submit:

• No overdue final reports from previous grants
• Data on annual arts participation and related expenses for the previous fiscal year
• A Proposal Narrative addressing the three SEMAC Review Criteria
• An itemized list of total expenses for the proposed project
• Organizations without 501(c)(3) designation must submit a signed Fiscal Sponsor agreement
• Organizations may submit only one proposal per grant cycle

Project Requirements

• All grant activities must take place within Minnesota
• Include an accessible public event to benefit citizens of the SEMAC Region
• Confirm that the public event location is ADA compliant
• SEMAC funding cannot be used as a substitute for other traditional state arts funding sources
• Start Date must be at least 90 days after the Final Submission Deadline, with an End Date within twelve months
• No publicity pertaining to the project may be produced before the Start Date
• No grant-related expenses may be incurred before the Start Date or after the End Date

Budget Requirements

• Budgets with Disallowed Expenses will be disqualified
• If total expenses exceed the grant amount, applicants will be asked about plans to cover the difference
• All budget calculations must be accurate (mathematical errors will disqualify applications)

Application Process

• Applications may be submitted up to 30 days prior to the Final Submission Deadline
• Applications will not be accepted after the deadline
• SEMAC will not accept late applications or emails confirming public events, regardless of whether a deadline falls on a weekend
• Applications that do not meet requirements will not advance to the review stage

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Application Process for Non-Arts Organizations

Basic Application Requirements

All non-arts organization applicants must submit:

• No overdue final reports from previous grants
• Data on annual arts participation and related expenses for the previous fiscal year
• A Proposal Narrative addressing the three SEMAC Review Criteria
• An itemized list of total expenses for the proposed project
• Organizations without 501(c)(3) or equivalent designation must submit a signed Fiscal Sponsor agreement (if applicable)

Project Requirements

• All grant activities must take place within Minnesota
• Virtual programming components are allowed, but the public event must be held in person
• Include an accessible public event to benefit citizens of the SEMAC Region
• Confirm that the public event location is ADA compliant
• SEMAC funding cannot be used as a substitute for other traditional state arts funding sources
• Start Date must be at least 90 days after the Final Submission Deadline, with an End Date within twelve months
• No publicity pertaining to the project may be produced before the Start Date
• No grant-related expenses may be incurred before the Start Date or after the End Date

Budget Requirements

• Budgets with Disallowed Expenses will be disqualified
• If total expenses exceed the grant amount, applicants will be asked about plans to cover the difference
• All budget calculations must be accurate (mathematical errors will disqualify applications)

Application Process

• Applications that do not meet requirements will not advance to the review stage
• Applications may be submitted up to 30 days prior to the Final Submission Deadline
• Applications will not be accepted after the deadline
• SEMAC will not accept late applications or emails confirming public events, regardless of whether a deadline falls on a weekend

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Application Requirements for K-12 Schools

Basic Application Requirements

All K-12 school applicants must submit:

• No overdue final reports from previous grants
• Data on annual arts participation and related expenses for the previous fiscal year
• A Proposal Narrative addressing the three SEMAC Review Criteria
• An itemized list of total expenses for the proposed project
• Confirmation that activities supplement rather than supplant the school’s prescribed arts curriculum

Project Requirements

• All grant activities must take place within Minnesota
• Virtual programming components are allowed, but the public event must be held in person
• Include an accessible public event to benefit citizens of the SEMAC Region
• Confirm that the public event location is ADA compliant
• SEMAC funding cannot be used as a substitute for other traditional state arts funding sources
• Start Date must be at least 90 days after the Final Submission Deadline, with an End Date within twelve months
• No publicity pertaining to the project may be produced before the Start Date
• No grant-related expenses may be incurred before the Start Date or after the End Date

School-Specific Requirements

• Residencies must be at least one full day or up to five school days in length
• Must culminate in a public event showcasing students that is accessible and open to the public
• Must supplement rather than supplant the school’s prescribed curriculum
• Programs designed to meet K-12 Minnesota Academic Standards in the Arts are not eligible

Budget Requirements

• Budgets with Disallowed Expenses will be disqualified
• If total expenses exceed the grant amount, applicants will be asked about plans to cover the difference
• All budget calculations must be accurate (mathematical errors will disqualify applications)

Application Process

• Applications may be submitted up to 30 days prior to the Final Submission Deadline
• Applications will not be accepted after the deadline
• SEMAC will not accept late applications or emails confirming public events, regardless of whether a deadline falls on a weekend
• Applications that do not meet requirements will not advance to the review stage

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Contact SEMAC

For more information about or assistance with SEMAC’s grant programs:

• Phone: 507.281.4848
• Email: staff@semac.org
• Instagram @southeasternmnartscouncil | Facebook @SEMAC
• Contact sharon@semac.org, 711 TTY with accessibility needs.

SEMAC activities are made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund.