Wendy Placko's Table Read for DS Birch Carlson, Episode 2. Photo by Kallie Rollenhagen

 On March 11, 2025, the SEMAC Board of Directors awarded $126,835 in arts project grants to individual artists and culture bearers throughout Southeastern Minnesota. This included nineteen Advancing Artist and Culture Bearer Grants and eleven Emerging Artist and Culture Bearer Grants. See the full list of artists and their projects at the link below.

We extend our sincere appreciation to everyone who participated in Arts Advocacy Day at the Minnesota State Capitol on March 4, 2025! Attendance included SEMAC Staff and Board Members Anastasia Shartin, Sharon Mansur, Jacqueline VanRavenhorst, Rob Hardy, and Melissa Wray who took time to meet with legislators and advocate for the Legacy Amendment and arts funding in Minnesota.

By speaking with legislators, you helped ensure continued support for the 30,000+ artists and 1,600+ arts organizations that make Minnesota a great place for people to live.

The advocacy highlighted crucial facts about the arts in Minnesota including:

• Arts organizations and their audiences generate over $1 billion in economic impact annually
• 95% of Minnesotans believe arts are important or essential to children's education
• Students with high levels of arts involvement show higher academic achievement

Thank you for lending your voice to this vital cause! Learn more about the impact of the arts in Minnesota by visiting MSAB's website and exploring the Minnesota Citizens for the Arts' review of Arts Advocacy Day's events through the links below.

Get Involved with SEMAC

Explore the many opportunities to support SEMAC-funded capstone events happening this month:

28th Rochester International Film Festival

April 3-6 | Times Vary

Pop's Art Theatre

Rochester, MN

The Rochester International Film Festival returns for its 28th year, bringing eight exclusive feature-length films from across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the United States to southeastern Minnesota. Audiences will experience high-quality international cinema that has yet to screen in theaters or appear on streaming platforms.

The festival proudly showcases diverse works from both male and female filmmakers, with special Minnesota-made selections featuring in-person Q&A sessions with the directors themselves. Films will be presented in their original languages with English subtitles, with two selections offered in English.

RIFF celebrates the communal experience of cinema on the big screen, creating a multigenerational event that brings together film enthusiasts from across the region. Don't miss this unique opportunity to discover powerful new voices in global filmmaking, exclusively at the 28th Rochester International Film Festival.

Mainspring Houston County High School Art Show

Saturday, April 5 | 4-6p

Mainspring

Caledonia, MN

Join Mainspring for their second annual Houston County High School Art Show! Opening reception: Saturday, April 5th, 4-6pm at Mainspring. Come enjoy student artwork, live music and refreshments. Free admission!

Additional viewing hours:

Sunday, April 6th, 12-3pm

Saturday, April 12th, 12-3pm

Sunday, April 13th, 12-3pm

The Cherry Blossoms You Missed Artist Reception

Saturday, April 5 | 11a-1p

Rochester Art Center

Rochester, MN

The Rochester Art Center presents a solo exhibition of photographic works by artist Kathleen Hawkes. Hawkes' still life photographs are a response to the unexpected death of a close friend. Through her compositions, Hawkes investigates grief, regret, and the inherent limitations of personal relationships. Hawkes’ work serves as a personal narrative and a complex portrait of a dear friend, from her singular vantage point, pieced together from belongings left behind. Entry to the opening reception is free and includes creative activities for all ages, from children to adults. Run Time: March 29 - August 31, 2025.

MacPhail Austin Children's Choir and CommUNITY Choir Spring Concert

Tuesday, April 15 | 6:30p

Knowlton Auditorium

Austin, MN

The CommUNITY Choir and MacPhail Children’s Choir hopes you will join us as we celebrate the power of music at “Spring Sing.” The concert takes place April 15 at 6:30 in Knowlton Auditorium, and tickets are $10 at the door. Free for Students and Children. 

Through Bees' Eyes: Floral Perspectives Artist Reception

Friday, April 18 | 6-8p

Quarry Hill Nature Center

Rochester, MN

Explore how bees see the world in “Through Bees’ Eyes”—a collection by artist Samantha Reiter-Johnson (@Chlorocreations). Discover why bees are drawn to certain flowers through interactive and thought-provoking artwork. On display for two months (April 18-June 4), the exhibit features an Artist Reception and talk, and a Family Fun Day (April 19, 10a-12p) with bee activities and crafts free to the public.

arTRUST - Building Trust Through Art

Saturday, April 26 | 11a-2p

The Key

Northfield, MN

The Northfield Union of Youth proudly presents arTRUST, an innovative exhibition exploring connections between creativity and community. Through powerful visual expressions, local youth artists examine the foundations of trust while showcasing their unique perspectives. This compelling showcase invites visitors to experience how art can bridge divides and foster meaningful dialogue across generations.

Bluff Country Studio Art Tour 2025

April 25 - 27 | 10a-5p Daily

Lanesboro Community Center &

Southeast Minnesota Region

Lanesboro, MN

Bluff Country Studio Art Tour is a weekend-long art adventure and celebration of a diverse and vibrant community of artists found in the southeast corner of Minnesota. Gather a carload of friends for a fun, self-guided tour of local artists in their studios or galleries. Printed maps will be available at each participating location or can be downloaded and printed from the tour's website. This event is free to attend.

2025 Celebration of Poetry & Art

Sunday, April 27 Free Open House 12-1p

Red Wing Arts Depot Gallery

Red Wing, MN

The Celebration of Poetry & Art at Red Wing Arts' Depot Gallery has sold out with 85 attendees enjoying this popular fusion of literary and visual creativity. The public is welcome to view the exhibition during a free open house from 12-1p before the ticketed reading begins at 2p. Following this special event, RWA invites the community to two free Poetry Readings on May 4 & 18, where poets will share their Poet Artist Collaboration works and additional poetry, often with their artist collaborators present. ASL interpretation available May 18. Join RWA for these continuing celebrations of the artistic connection between words and imagery!

The Ongoing Impacts of

SEMAC-Funded Projects

We are catching up with previous grant recipients to learn about the lasting impacts of their funded projects. By reconnecting with the individuals and organizations, we aim to share how our grants have benefited artists and their communities. This month, we feature Mary Beth Magyar's Textile Art: A Multicultural Tapestry.

The sign posted outside of Mary Beth Magyar's interactive arts booth at IMAA's Walk Around the World event and the inspiration for her project

In a world often focused on what divides us, artist Mary Beth Magyar's recent textile project with Rochester's Intercultural Mutual Assistance Association (IMAA) reminds us of the beauty found in diversity. Inspired by the concept that America is not a melting pot but rather a tapestry of distinct cultures, Magyar's SEMAC-funded project brought together community members to create a collaborative textile artwork celebrating IMAA's 40th anniversary. What began as a simple weaving project evolved into a shared human experience across cultures and a reminder that our differences don't diminish us but rather enrich the whole. Read more as we explore how this community-centered art project wove together much more than beads and fabric.