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Updates

SEMAC’s 2026-2027 Biennial Plan

The Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC) is developing its required 2026-27 Biennial Plan for the Minnesota State Arts Board, a strategic initiative that will guide arts funding and programming across 11 counties serving over 517,000 residents. This comprehensive plan, informed by feedback from more than 200 artists, arts professionals, and community members through a recent Needs Assessment Survey, outlines grant programs, community initiatives, and vital services. The plan aims to strengthen regional arts development through targeted leadership, expanded outreach, dedicated advocacy, and enhanced mentorship opportunities, with a focus on fostering diverse artistic expressions and ensuring equitable access to arts resources throughout southeastern Minnesota.

Click here to review the SEMAC Biennial Plan for FY2026-27.

SEMAC’s Public Input Meeting on the Biennial Plan

SEMAC hosted a virtual public meeting on Tuesday, March 18 from 6-8p, to review and discuss the draft plan. This forum ensured that community voices helped shape the future of arts funding and programming in southeastern Minnesota. The document was available on this page starting March 13, giving community members time to review before providing input at the Zoom meeting.

A recording of the meeting is now available for those who were unable to attend. You can also review a PDF of the presentation for reference. If you were unable to attend the virtual meeting, you still have the option to give feedback using this form through March 24.

The meeting recording (Zoom passcode f?KC6g$X) and PDF presentation can be accessed through the link below. 

 
Meeting Recording
View Presentation

Questions? Call (507) 281-4848 or email staff@semac.org for assistance.

Professional headshot of Sharon Mansur smiling warmly at the camera. She has short dark hair with subtle burgundy highlights, and wears small earrings. She's dressed in an olive green turtleneck under a knit sweater in sage green with large brown buttons. The photo is taken against a neutral gray background
photo by Brian Segal

Welcome Sharon Mansur to the SEMAC team!

SEMAC is excited to introduce Sharon Mansur as our new Outreach and Accessibility Manager. Sharon’s role will strengthen arts access across s

outheastern Minnesota by building partnerships, developing workshops, and ensuring our programs reach all communities to make the arts truly accessible for everyone.

Sharon Mansur (she/her) is originally from Boston, and currently based in Winona, Mni Sota Makoce/MN, Dakota land. She is a dance/interdisciplinary artist, curator, educator, arts administrator, and facilitator of gatherings that embody creativity, social justice and healing practices. Sharon has been fortunate to work at Dance Place, in Washington, DC, BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange in Brooklyn, NY, and more recently with Frozen River Film Festival and Art of the Rural in Winona. She also served on the dance faculty at Winona State University and University of Maryland, and currently directs The Cedar Tree Project, a creative platform for Arab contemporary art and artists.

In the Driftless region Sharon loves hiking, rock climbing, bike rides by the lake, and tending to her pollinator gardens. She is thrilled to be joining SEMAC as their Outreach and Accessibility Manager, and looks forward to supporting creatives and their communities in this new role.

Changes to The Individual Artist Grant Application Process

Based on feedback from SEMAC’s recent Needs Assessment Survey, a Letter of Intent is no longer required for Individual Artist grant applications. Full applications for Individual Artists and Culture Bearers will open on December 28, 2024. The final grant submission deadline is January 28, 2025. Find more information about SEMAC Individual Artist Grants here.

Updates to Grant Eligibility

An update on the timing of grant projects. Proposals must be for projects scheduled to begin at least NINETY days after the Final Submission Deadline. This means no expenses may be incurred until after the Start Date selected by the applicant.

Recipients of Individual Artist Grants who are in good standing are eligible to reapply every fiscal year. Also, there are no longer major funder restrictions on Advancing Artists.

No matching funds will be required for Organizational Grants.

Misuse of SEMAC Funds

The Regional Arts Councils’ Misuse of Funds Procedure applies to all grants funded by the Minnesota Legislature and the Minnesota Legacy Amendment or Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

All Grantees are required to acknowledge that they reviewed the SEMAC Misuse of Funds Procedure when signing their contracts. Be advised that there are tiered consequences for misuse of funds based on the grant amounts and the Grantee’s actions.