Recent SEMAC Grant Awards
On March 10, 2026, the SEMAC Board of Directors awarded grants to 12 applicants for a total of $53,955 in Individual Artist & Culture Bearer grants to applicants throughout Southeastern Minnesota. This included four advancing artists and eight emerging artists. Recipients are listed by county.
Fillmore
• Heidi Eger, Canton, received a $3,995 Emerging Artist grant for Block Party: Expanding a Folk Art.
• Kara Elizabeth Maloney, Lanesboro, received a $3,000 Emerging Artist grant for Transformative Rosemaling.
Olmsted
• Ashante Gills, Rochester, received a $3,700 Emerging Artist grant for Waves of Alignment.
• Lydia Hansen, Rochester, received a $3,310 Emerging Artist grant for Eagle Bluff Fungi Hunt.
• Nicole Havekost, Rochester, received a $5,950 Advancing Artist grant for Repose: exhibition of drawings.
• Soojin Lee, Rochester, received a $6,000 Advancing Artist grant for Jamming with the Gayageum.
• Nicole Nfonoyim-Hara, Rochester, received a $4,000 Emerging Artist grant for Supporting Novel Manuscript.
Rice
• Julie Fakler, Faribault, received a $6,000 Advancing Artist grant for Energized Animal Portraits.
• David Ullman, Northfield, received a $6,000 Advancing Artist grant for The Furious Light: Sound Design & Mix.
Winona
• Gloria Alatorre, Winona, received a $4,000 Emerging Artist grant for Living Altars: Día de Muertos-Winona.
• Chalymar Martinez Flores, Winona, received a $4,000 Emerging Artist grant for Beyond Time Puertorrican History.
• Raelynn Peter, Winona, received a $4,000 Emerging Artist grant for Watercolors of the Mississippi River.
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On January 13, 2026, the SEMAC Board of Directors awarded grants to 9 applicants for a total of $40,950 in funding. This includes four Artists & Culture Bearers in the Schools grants, and five General Operating Support grants. Recipients are listed by county.
Fillmore
• Dreamery Rural Arts Initiative received a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
Mower
• Austin Public Schools received a $3,995 Artists & Culture Bearers in the Schools grant for Flipside Brings Rhythm to Austin.
• Zumbro Valley Chorus received a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Administrative Expenses.
Rice
• Bridge Chamber Music Festival received a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
• Vintage Band Festival received a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Administrative Expenses.
Wabasha
• Lake City Public Schools received a $4,000 Artists & Culture Bearers in the Schools grant for Jazz Festival: Guest Artist Snacklebox.
Winona
• James Harper (Riverway Learning Community) received a $3,955 Artists & Culture Bearers in the Schools grant for Procession of the Species.
• Mid West Music Fest received a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
• Winona Area Public Schools received a $4,000 Artists & Culture Bearers in the Schools grant for Health Mural.
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On November 10, 2025, the SEMAC Board of Directors awarded grants to 56 applicants for a total of $391,262 in funding. This includes two Artists & Culture Bearers in the Schools grants, 24 General Operating Support grants, and thirty Programming & Project Support for Organizations grants. Recipients are listed by county.
Dodge County
• Mantorville Art Guild received a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Facilities & Maintenance.
• Mantorville Theatre Company received a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
Fillmore County
• City of Whalan received a $6,000 Support for Organizations grant for Music in the Bluffs.
• Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center received a $6,000 Support for Organizations grant for Stringwood Chamber Music Festival.
• Lanesboro Community Theatre received a $7,425 Support for Organizations grant for Wrinkle in Time.
• Wits’ End Theatre received a $7,350 Support for Organizations grant for The Wedding Singer.
Freeborn County
• Albert Lea Art Center received a $4,951.9 General Operating Support grant for Facilities & Maintenance.
• Freeborn County Arts Initiative received an $11,000 Support for Organizations grant for Programming Support 2026 and a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Facilities & Maintenance.
Goodhue County
• Bells of the Bluffs Handbell Ensemble received a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
• Big Turn received an $11,000 Support for Organizations grant for Big Turn Music Fest 2026.
• Red Wing Arts received an $11,000 Support for Organizations grant for The Artist’s Studio Series.
• Sheldon Theatre Brass Band received a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
• Sheldon Theatre of Performing Arts received an $11,000 Support for Organizations grant for Community Outreach Residencies 2026.
• Zumbrota State Theatre received a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
Houston County
• International Owl Center received a $6,000 Support for Organizations grant for 2026 Int’l Children’s Owl Art Contest.
• Mainspring received a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
• Southeast Minnesota Bluegrass Association received a $6,000 Support for Organizations grant for May 2026 Bluegrass Music Festival and a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Administrative Expenses.
Mower County
• Austin Area Arts received an $11,000 Support for Organizations grant for Emerging Artists at AAF 2026.
• Austin Symphony Orchestra received a $5000 Support for Organizations grant for Roberto Returns with American Music! and a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
• Summerset Community Theatre received an $11,000 Support for Organizations grant for Go Go Go Bee – Season 58.
• Zumbro Valley Chorus received an $11,000 Support for Organizations grant for Zumbro Valley Chorus 60th Anniversary.
Olmsted County
• Byron Community Education received a $6,000 Support for Organizations grant for Community Art Workshops & Exhibitions.
• Choral Arts Ensemble of Rochester received a $10,000 Support for Organizations grant for Singing for Life High School Choral Fest.
• Dover-Eyota Public Schools received a $4,000 Artists & Culture Bearers in the Schools grant for 2026 Lake Wobegon Brass Band Residency.
• Olmsted County received a $6,000 Support for Organizations grant for Transforming Trash Artist-In-Residence.
• Rochester Area Handbells received a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
• Rochester Chamber Music Society received a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
• Rochester Civic Theatre Company received an $11,000 Support for Organizations grant for The SpongeBob Musical.
• Rochester International Film Group received a $6,000 Support for Organizations grant for Rochester International Film Festival 29.
• Rochester Male Chorus received a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
• Rochester Music Guild received a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Administrative Expenses.
• Rochester Repertory Theatre Company received a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
• Rochester Symphony received an $11,000 Support for Organizations grant for Concerts for Kids.
• Sing Out Loud received a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
• Southeast Service Cooperative received a $6,000 Support for Organizations grant for Young Authors Young Artists Conference.
Rice County
• Bridge Chamber Music Festival received a $10,235 Support for Organizations grant for Chamber Music Festival 2026.
• International Cello Institute received an $11,000 Support for Organizations grant for CelloCentric: Community Connections 2026.
• Northfield Public Schools received a $4,000 Artists & Culture Bearers in the Schools grant for Perspectives: How do photos form us?
• Northfield Youth Choirs received a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
• Paradise Center for the Arts received an $11,000 Support for Organizations grant for 2026 Marquee Children’s Theatre Season.
Wabasha County
• Lake City Area Arts received a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Facilities & Maintenance.
Winona County
• Bluff Country Studio Art Tour received a $6,200 Support for Organizations grant for Bluff Country Studio Art Tour 2026.
• Frozen River Film Festival received a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
• Great River Shakespeare Festival received an $11,000 Support for Organizations grant for Summer Programs for Youth.
• River Arts Alliance received a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
• Sandbar Storytelling Festival received an $11,000 Support for Organizations grant for 2026 Festival Expenses and a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
• Theatre du Mississippi received a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
• Winona Arts Center received a $7,520 Support for Organizations grant for Seven Sundays: WAC Art & Music 2026 and a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
• Winona Creators Collective received a $10,580 Support for Organizations grant for Pottery Wheels & classes for Makerspace.
• Winona Symphony Orchestra received an $8,000 Support for Organizations grant for 2026 Children’s Concert and a $5,000 General Operating Support grant for Staffing & Salaries.
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On September 9, 2025, the SEMAC Board of Directors awarded $76,650 in Individual Artist & Culture Bearer grants to applicants throughout Southeastern Minnesota. This included eleven advancing artists and three emerging artists. Recipients are listed by county.
Fillmore County
• Liz Bucheit, Lanesboro, received a $6,000 Advancing Artist grant for Norwegian Silver Tradition in Transition.
Freeborn County
• Susanne Crane, Albert Lea, received a $6,000 Advancing Artist grant for Beatrice, Minnesota’s Prima Dona.
Olmsted County
• Terri Allred, Rochester, received a $4,000 Emerging Artist grant for Clay Calm: Pottery for Wellness.
• Jessalyn Finch, Rochester, received a $6,000 Advancing Artist grant for Echoes of Dysmorphia.
• Spencer Johannes, Rochester, received a $3,650 Emerging Artist grant for Scaling Project ALCC Research
Rice County
• Gao Hong, Northfield, received a $ 6,000 Advancing Artist grant for Concerto with Global Music Ensemble.
• Asuka Kakitani, Northfield, received a $6,000 Advancing Artist grant for Northfield Chamber Ensemble Project.
• Linda Rossi, Northfield, received a $ 6,000 Advancing Artist grant for Creating a Natural History Book.
• Andrea Turini, Northfield, received a $6,000 Advancing Artist grant for Heirloom Fire: Czech Glasswork.
Wabasha County
• Sue Mundy, Wabasha, received a $5,000 Advancing Artist grant for Feathered Horizons.
Winona County
• Robert Armstrong, Winona, received a $5,000 Advancing Artist grant for Fancy Dancers of the Ojibwe.
• Charles Kernler, Winona, received a $4,000 Emerging Artist grant for Publishing The Stonehouse Chronicles.
• John Paulson, Winona, received a $6,000 Advancing Artist grant for Jazz Concert, Recording & New Work.
• Lois Peterson, Dakota, received a $6,000 Advancing Artist grant for Beneath the Fields.
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