SHARE:  
Facebook  Instagram

Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council December News & Events

A black and white photo of a man in a hoodie giving a presentation or demonstration. He's standing behind a desk or podium, adjusting audio equipment or a microphone while speaking to a seated audience in what appears to be an auditorium or lecture hall. The room has scaffolding or mounting equipment visible on the left side.

Northern Sun Productions leads Lanesboro Arts' Rural Production Training Program

SEMAC Warmly Welcomes Sharon Mansur to the team!

Professional headshot of Sharon Mansur. She has short purple-tinted hair against a dark background, wearing a olive green top with a floral patterned neckline and dangling earrings. She is smiling warmly at the camera and wearing a pendant necklace.

SEMAC is excited to introduce Sharon Mansur as our new Outreach and Accessibility Manager. Sharon's role will strengthen arts access across southeastern Minnesota by building partnerships, developing workshops, and ensuring our programs reach all communities to make the arts truly accessible for everyone.



photo by La Vonte Thompson

Learn More About Sharon

54 Southeastern Minnesota Organizations Awarded Grants

The Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council is proud to continue supporting arts and cultural initiatives across our 11-county region. On November 19, 2024, the SEMAC Board of Directors awarded grants totaling $378,430 to organizations throughout Southeastern Minnesota. The awards include 34 Legacy grants, 11 Programming Grants for Arts Organizations, 9 Small Towns/Rural Areas grants, and one School Residency grant. We congratulate all recipients and look forward to seeing these creative projects enrich our communities!

See Recent Awards

SEMAC Individual Artist Grant Application Opens December 28, 2024

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. The final grant submission deadline is January 28, 2025.

SEMAC Individual Artist Grants support your original work in Dance, Literary Arts, Music, Theatre, Visual Arts, and Interdisciplinary Projects. These grants offer $3,000 for emerging artists and $5,000 for advancing artists - no matching funds required. All grant programs include a Capstone event that is open to the public.


Learn More

Joy to the Arts! Explore December's Capstone Events

Explore the SEMAC-funded capstone events happening this month:

Black and white exhibition poster for 'DWELLING' featuring woodcut prints including images of a raccoon in a tree and a lighthouse. The show is presented by Winona Arts Center and Hiawatha Valley Mental Health, displaying woodcuts by Winona artists and artwork by WAC members. Opening reception December 1, 2024, 1 to 4 PM at Winona Arts Center, 28 E 5th St, Winona, MN.

Dwelling Opening Reception featuring Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center Members

Sunday, December 1 | 1p-4p

Winona Arts Center

Winona, MN


Andy Kranz with the Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center lead fifteen local artists through a six-week exploration of the concept of home and habitat through the traditional craft of block printing. Join him and the artists as they showcase their handcrafted prints in a unique exhibition where each artist's interpretation tells a story of what it means to dwell.

Learn More
A recital announcement poster featuring an illustration of a brown grand piano in the center. Musical notes and symbols decorate the border. The text reads "Join us for a Music Recital" with "Sunday, December 8th 2024 1pm" in orange text, and "featuring the students of Vivian Lark" below. A small pink banner ribbon decorates the middle of the design.

Music Lessons for All

Student Showcase

Sunday, December 8 | 1p-2p

125 LIVE

Rochester, MN


Three aspiring pianists received six months of private instruction and their first keyboards through this Music for All program. Join instructor Amy Radford (DBA Vivian Lark) and her talented students as they showcase their newfound skills in music reading and performance.

Learn More

Micheal Veldman and Friends: Toyland

Sunday, December 15 | 2p

Austin High School - Knowlton Auditorium

Austin, MN


Join Austin City Orchestra as they celebrate their 2024-2025 season. The beloved Michael Veldman and Friends joins the symphony on stage for a spectacular winter performance. Toyland is a new program of musical favorites capturing the spirit of the holidays.

Learn More
A marching band performing in uniform, wearing red jackets with white diagonal sashes, black pants, and tall black hats with plumes. Band members are carrying various instruments including clarinets and are marching in formation. The letters 'JM' are visible on their uniforms. They are performing outdoors in front of a modern building with horizontal siding

John Marshall Holiday Band Concert

Wednesday, December 17 | 7p

John Marshall High School -

Ilstrup Auditorium

Rochester, MN


Mark your calendars for the upcoming John Marshall Bands Holiday Concert at 7pm on December 17th in the John Marshall High School Ilstrup Auditorium. Thank you for your support of the JM Bands Program!

Learn More
A group of young students sit in a row holding papers, likely sheet music or lyrics, in what appears to be a music or performance class. Several drums with flame designs are visible in the foreground. Behind them, a projector screen displays a colorful diploma or certificate design with cartoon-style graphics

Community Outreach Video Montage

Friday, December 20 | 1p

Universal Music Center & Online

Red Wing, MN


Join Universal Music Center for an in-person or virtual (Facebook) video showcase featuring highlights of their past year of programming. UMC spent the past year bringing creative programs directly to underserved populations across Goodhue, Wabasha, and Houston Counties, from youth centers to senior living facilities. Their experienced teaching artists brought engaging arts education to rehabilitation centers, libraries, and community spaces, making creativity accessible to all.

Learn More

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 Delia Bell's Exploring Ceramic Slab Vessels project.

Delia Bell at work on her ceramic slab vessels

When a potter steps away from the wheel, new possibilities emerge. For Lanesboro artist Delia Bell, a year of exploring geometric forms through slab-built vessels gave new perspective to her ceramic practice. Here's how venturing into new territory transformed her approach to functional pottery.

Learn More

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.

Visit our Website