New Grant Opportunities for Organizations to Enrich Communities in Southeastern Minnesota

Melissa Wray - Homecoming: a Poetry & Quilt Project, Caledonia

Grant Applications for Organizations Open February 1 with a March 1 Submission Deadline

SEMAC supports a thriving arts environment throughout the 11-county region by making program grants available to arts and non-arts organizations twice a year.

The next Organizational Grant application deadline is March 1, 2024. Proposals for arts programming that begins at least sixty days after the deadline may be submitted in one of the following grant categories:

• Legacy Grants

• Small Towns/Rural Areas Grants

• Programming Grants for Arts Organizations

All non-profit organizations in the SEMAC region offering arts programming are encouraged to apply for these competitive grant opportunities. Arts organizations are eligible to apply for up to $10,000 and non-arts organizations are eligible for grants up to $5,000.

Learn More

Celebrate Regional Arts Throughout the Month of February

Although the days may still be short, the list of opportunities to get out and enjoy the arts in Southeastern Minnesota is long. Check out these SEMAC-Funded events happening near you almost every day this month!

Homecoming:

A Poetry & Quilt Project

Melissa Wray

Artist Reception

Friday, February 2 | 6-8p

Mainspring

Caledonia, MN

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Tracing to the Origins - Piano Meets Traditional Chinese Instruments

Dr. Tianyao Xie

Sunday, February 4 | 3-5p

First UU Church

Rochester, MN

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Concert for 4th Grade Students

Rochester Symphony

Monday, February 5

John Marshall High School

Rochester, MN

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Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Opening Night

Thursday, February 8 | 7p

Rochester Civic Theatre

Rochester, MN

This production was supported by an organizational grant from SEMAC and features new media theatre projections by Rochester-based artist Kevin Dobbe made possible through a SEMAC Individual Artist grant.

Learn More about Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Learn More about Kevin Dobbe

Frozen River Film Festival

February 4-11

Times and Locations Vary

Winona, MN

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Love Cafe with

Hannah Lou Woods - an afternoon of music, poetry, and community art-making

Saturday, February 10 | 1-3p

Rochester Art Center

Rochester, MN

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Bridge Over Troubled Water

Saturday, February 10 | 7p

Minnesota WiFi Performing Arts Center

Kasson-Mantorville Public School

Kasson, MN

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Interference: Reimagining Pastorals

Kent McInnis

Artist Reception

Thursday, February 15

6:15-8p

Northfield Arts Guild

Northfield, MN

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Beyond the Surface: Microscopic Art of Minnesota Waterways

Samantha Reiter-Johnson

Artist Reception

Saturday, February 17 | 6-8p

Lake City Arts

Lake City, MN

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One-Act Festival

Friday, Feb 16 & 23 | 7p

Saturday, Feb 17 & 24 | 7p

Sunday, Feb 18 & 25 | 2p

Theatre du Mississippi

Winona, MN

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The Wildlife of Southern Minnesota

Jacob "The Fox" Schlichter

Artist Reception

Thursday, February 23

5-7p

Albert Lea Art Center

Albert Lea, MN

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Back Channel Radio

Podcast

New Episode Release

Saturday, February 24

Streaming Online

Winona, MN

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Artist Development Workshop Series 2024

This year-long series of free workshops for professional and amateur artists of all artistic disciplines will explore a variety of topics and provide opportunities for artists to share resources, network, and socialize with their creative peers from throughout the region. Sponsored by SEMAC, all workshops will be available in-person or on-line by registering through the Northfield Arts Guild.

Rocky Casillas Aquirre (left) and Jennie Autonoe (right)

Self-Publishing for Independent Artists

Thursday, February 8 | 6-8p

Paradise Center for the Arts & Online

Faribault, MN

Join Rocky Casillas Aguirre and Jennie Autonoe as they speak on their experiences as self-published authors and illustrators. Find out where their passions lie when it comes to creating words and imagery in book form, as well as what challenges accompany being a print artist in today's high-tech works. Learn about the abundant opportunities to being a Do-It-Yourself artist!

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Join the Minnesota Arts Community for Arts Advocacy Day

Arts Action Week

March 4-8

March 5 - Arts Advocacy Day with In-Person Rally in the Capitol Rotunda | 10a

St Paul, MN

It's time for the Minnesota arts community to come together! Help the Minnesota Citizen's for the Arts "rally the troupes" and make voices of arts advocates heard at the State Capitol. Say thank you to legislators for securing over $100 million for the arts and continue to advocate for additional arts Legacy/General funds. There are more ways than ever to get your voice heard. Learn more and register at the link below.

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Revisiting Past Grant Recipients and the Lasting Impacts of Funded Projects

We are catching up with previous grant recipients to learn about the lasting impacts of their funded projects. By reconnecting with these individuals, we aim to share how our grants have benefited both the artists and their communities. This month we feature Maggie Panetta and her Zumbro River Underpass Mural.

Artist Maggie Panetta (left) and Amy Garrettson of Rochester Art Center (right)

Rochester artist Maggie Panetta recently completed a vibrant mural along a downtown underpass in Rochester, thanks to her creative vision and funding from SEMAC. The mural project brought together community members of all ages and backgrounds to participate in public painting sessions, transforming a formerly drab passageway into an uplifting and memorable work of public art. Read our blog to learn more about Maggie's Project.

SEMAC Blog

Get Involved with SEMAC

SEMAC is committed to building bridges and nurturing meaningful relationships. We are seeking artists, arts professionals, and arts enthusiasts to join our Arts Advisory Panel and Board of Directors. The Panel is responsible for reviewing grant applications and making funding recommendations to the Board.

If you or someone you know is interested in applying for these service opportunities, please follow these links for more information:

Arts Advisory Panel

Board of Directors

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.