ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – The Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC) Board of Directors announced the awarding of $345,985 in arts programming to organizations and schools throughout Southeastern Minnesota.
The funding includes:
- 18 Legacy Grants to arts organizations totaling $180,000
- 16 Legacy Grants to non-arts groups totaling $79,710
- 7 Programming Grants to arts organizations totaling $32,100
- 11 Small Towns/Rural Areas Grants totaling $54,175
Grant Recipients by County:
Dodge County
- Mantorville Economic Development Authority received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas Grant for Art in the Park 2026.
- Mantorville Theatre Company received a $4,890 Small Towns/Rural Areas Grant for All Student Theatre Production.
Fillmore County
- Chatfield Center for the Arts received a $4,950 Small Towns/Rural Areas Grant for Technology Upgrades for Arts Access.
- Dreamery Rural Arts Initiative received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for Season Programming Support.
- Lanesboro Arts received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for Rural Arts Production Training Program.
- Lanesboro Community Theater received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas Grant for Production of “The 39 Steps” stage play.
- Peterson Committee for the Arts received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas Grant for Arts Blossom in Peterson – Summer Music.
- Rushford Area Society of the Arts received a $4,335 Small Towns/Rural Areas Grant for Storybook Theatre – “Three Little Pigs”.
Freeborn County
- Friends of the Bohemian Brick Hall received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas Grant for 2025 Annual Czech Fest.
Goodhue County
- Anderson Center at Tower View received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for 2025 Minnesota Children’s Book Festival.
- Frontenac State Park Association received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas Grant for Prairie Dreams: Trail of Quilts.
- Hispanic Outreach of Goodhue County received a $5,000 Legacy Grant for Hispanic Heritage Festival 2025.
- Red Wing Arts & Culture Commission received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for Red Wing Sculpture Walk.
- Zeitgeist received a $5,000 Programming Grant for Arts Organizations for Underwater Cousins.
Houston County
- Mainspring received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for Houston County Artist Mentorship Program.
- Southeast Minnesota Bluegrass Association received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for August 2025 Bluegrass Music Festival.
Mower County
- Austin Symphony Orchestra received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for Celebrating Our 2025-26 Season.
- MacPhail Center for Music – Austin received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for All Ages and Abilities Music Programming.
Olmsted County
- Downtown Oronoco Gold Rush Days received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas Grant for Live Music at Gold Rush Days.
- Eyota Days Committee received a $3,600 Programming Grant for Arts Organizations for Little Mermaid children’s theatre.
- RNeighbors (Rochester Neighborhood Resource Centre) received a $5,000 Legacy Grant for Chalk the Block 2025.
- Rochester New Music Ensemble received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for 2025 RNME Concert.
- Rochester Repertory Theatre Company received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for Royalties & Stipends for 2025-26 Season.
- Rochester Pops Orchestra received a $5,000 Programming Grant for Arts Organizations for Encore: A Second Decade.
- Rochester Community & Technical College received a $4,710 Legacy Grant for Spotlight Academy.
- Sing Out Loud received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for Celebration of Women in Music.
- Shorewood Senior Campus received a $5,000 Legacy Grant for Engaging with the Arts.
- Somali American Social Service Association received a $5,000 Legacy Grant for Annual Somali Cultural Festival.
- Southeastern Minnesota Youth Orchestras received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for Youth Orchestra Coaching.
- USA Dance Chapter 2017 received a $5,000 Legacy Grant for Winter Dance Enchantment.
Rice County
- A Great Day Farm received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas Grant for Rooted in Creativity: Art for All.
- Faribault Community Education received a $5,000 Legacy Grant for Now is Our Time!
- Faribault Parks & Recreation received a $5,000 Legacy Grant for Faribault Concerts in the Park Series.
- Friends and Foundation of Northfield Public Library received a $5,000 Legacy Grant for Hispanic Heritage Celebration 2025.
- Northfield Union of Youth (The Key) received a $5,000 Legacy Grant for Unlocked Voices.
- Rice County Neighbors United received a $5,000 Legacy Grant for Celebrating Latina and Latino Culture.
- South Central Minnesota Studio ARTour received a $5,000 Programming Grant for Arts Organizations for Studio ARTour 2025.
- Three Links Care Center received a $5,000 Legacy Grant for Folk & Bluegrass Music for Care Centers.
Steele County
- Owatonna Symphony Orchestra received a $5,000 Programming Grant for Arts Organizations for Cool Classics – Beethoven, Beatles, Jazz.
Wabasha County
- WideSpot Performing Arts Center & Community Project received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for 2025 Fall – Wabasha Cultural Project.
Winona County
- Art of the Rural received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for Spillway Gathering.
- Frozen River Film Festival received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for The 21st Frozen River Film Festival.
- Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center received a $5,000 Legacy Grant for Through reflections, we see ourselves.
- Minnesota Marine Art Museum received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for Seasonal Saturdays: Art & Connection.
- Project FINE received a $5,000 Legacy Grant for Cultural Arts & Ancestry.
- Quince Ensemble received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for McKinley Medieval Songs with Quince.
- Saint Charles Public Schools received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas Grant for 2025 St. Charles Fall Musical.
- Theatre du Mississippi received a $10,000 Legacy Grant for Write On: A Year of Original One Acts.
- Winona Arts Center received a $3,500 Programming Grant for Arts Organizations for International Film Series 2025-2026.
- Winona Community Chorale received a $5,000 Programming Grant for Arts Organizations for Winona Community Chorale Fall Concert.
- Winona Dakota Unity Alliance received a $5,000 Legacy Grant for 2025 Winona-Dakota Gathering.
- Winona Parks & Recreation received a $5,000 Legacy Grant for Campfire Concert Series 2025 – Part 2.
These grants will support diverse arts and cultural programming and strengthen creative communities across the region.
Organizations interested in SEMAC grant opportunities can learn more about upcoming application deadlines and program guidelines at semac.org.
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