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