- Grants Awarded: SMAC Awards $96,699 to area arts organizations, schools and artists
- SMAC Annual Celebration schedule
- Welcoming Week September 2024
- Upcoming SMAC Workshops & SMAC Grant Videos
Pictured right: Andrew Webster fires a soda fire kiln, which he received a SMAC Quick Support grant to build the base and an Artist Growth grant for building materials for the kiln.
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SMAC Awards $96,699 to local organizations & artists
The SMAC board voted on August 27 to award $85,250 in grant funds to 12 organizations, $7,960 to 2 schools and $3,789 to 4 individual artists
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The following twelve organizations have been awarded SMAC Art Project grants. These grants provide organizations in the SMAC region with up to $7,000 in matching funds to stimulate and encourage the creation, performance and appreciation of the arts.
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Al Opland Singers of Pipestone have been awarded $7,000 for their 46th season, including a Christmas show, "Ring in the Season! Rejoice with Song!" and a Spring show, "Spring Festival of Music". Grant funds will help with production costs such as costumes, artistic and technical staff stipends, space rental, and advertising.
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The Department of Public Transformation in Granite Falls was awarded $7,000 for a residency opportunity for 4 SW MN artists to spend 2 weeks at The YES! House in Granite Falls, where they will dedicate time to their practice, connect with a regional network of creative people, build their audience base, and share their work in an ‘artist salon’ public showcase.
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Luverne Initiative for Tomorrow (LIFT) has been awarded $7,000 for December 2024 performances of "The Nutcracker Story" by the Youth Dance Ensemble of Burnsville, MN, joined by local dance students.
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The Meander Art Crawl of the the Upper Minnesota River Valley was awarded $7,000 for their three-day tour of artists' studios and galleries around the communities of Clinton, Ortonville, Appleton, Danvers, Madison, Milan, Dawson, Montevideo, and Granite Falls. This free event allows attendees to visit over 40 local artists in their own environment.
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The Midwest Music Foundation of Pipestone has been awarded $7,000 for a band experience in January-February 2025, open to any community members 11 years or older who play a band instrument. The experience will include sectionals, private lessons, and full group rehearsals, culminating in a public performance.
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The Prairie Arts Chorale of Marshall was awarded $6,500 for their fall concert titled "Sounding Joy." Song selections will include Christmas, other seasonal holidays, Vivaldi's Gloria, and songs about joy in our lives.
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Prairie Winds Concert Band of Willmar has been awarded $3,750 for two indoor concerts (November & April) of concert band repertoire, five early summer concerts at Rice Park in Willmar featuring lighter musical fare, and several smaller outreach ensembles to perform at community events.
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Rock County Historical Society of Luverne was awarded $7,000 for programming celebrating African American artist Jimmy Lovejoy, who lived in Luverne in the 1970s. The project includes a retrospective of his work along with work by his daughters, Lyssa and Toni. The Lovejoy sisters will also hold workshops and present multiple art programs for the community.
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Southwest Minnesota Orchestra of Marshall has been awarded $7,000 for their fall 2024 concert featuring Latin American music and Beethoven's Triple Concerto. Additionally, Panamanian guest cellist Isaac Casal will join Daniel Rieppel for a chamber concert featuring music from Panama along with other South American masterpieces.
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The City of Sunburg was awarded $7,000 for further developing and integrating traditional music into the Sunburg area by providing nine workshops and four public performances, increasing the number instruments taught by including whistle, piano, ukelele, and keyboard, and providing better arrangements for musicians.
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The Willmar Area Symphonic Orchestra has been awarded $7,000 for "Wings & Wilderness", a family friendly concert in October 2024 that celebrates birds and their environment, and a holiday concert in December 2024 including Malay Yague on violin, along with Willmar Area Community Chorus and West Central Singers.
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The Worthington Area Symphony Orchestra was awarded $7,000 for their November 2024 holiday concert, "Rockin' with Rachmaninoff", featuring Romantic Russian repertoire with Norwegian pianist Oda Voltersvik and holiday pops selections.
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The following two organizations have been awarded SMAC Quick Support for Organizations grants. These grants provide organizations with up to $2,500 for activities such as planning for an Art Legacy project, strategic planning or board training, costs to apply for 501(c)(3) status, small equipment purchases, or small arts projects.
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Redwood Area Arts was awarded $2,500 to purchase office, lighting, audio, and art equipment for their new space.
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The following two schools were awarded SMAC Arts in the Schools grants. These grants provide public schools with up to$4,000 for projects such as artist residencies, arts field trips, juried student art exhibits, etc.
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Lac qui Parle Valley School District in Madison has been awarded $4,000 for a residency with the vocal band, Six Appeal, exposing their entire 5-12 student body to the genre and giving opportunities for the vocal students to work side by side with these professional artists.
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Pipestone Area School was awarded $3,960 for a percussion ensemble opportunity taught by Pete Hansen, open to all Pipestone Area Schools students in grades 5-12 and any community members who also wish to participate.
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The following four artists were awarded SMAC Quick Support for Individual Artists grants. These grants provide artists with up to $1,000 for activities such as purchasing supplies, attending classes, and small artist-led community projects.
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Kristi Link Fernholz of Appleton was awarded $1,000 to purchase a new fine art printer for her photography. Pictured above left: Little Blue Stem
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Josette Jones of Morton has been awarded $1,000 to purchase fabric and supplies for making traditional regalia for powwows, including at least three jingle dresses, along with regalia for the grass dance, a fancy dance shawl, and ribbon skirts.
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Ann Lamecker of Hutchinson was awarded $696 to purchase the materials and instructional courses necessary to learn how to create digital imagery with Procreate, allowing her to create more polished works and continue to explore her artistic style. Pictured above middle: Watercolor and acrylic paint
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Kerry Ward of Glencoe has been awarded $793 to produce new work exploring collage and mixed media art that adds an encaustic finish. Pictured above right: Alcohol ink sunflowers on Yupo paper
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Plan to attend ~ Save the Date
Southwest Minnesota Arts Council 2024 Annual Celebration
~Showcasing Nobles County~
~No tickets required • All are Welcome~
You are invited to join us in celebration of the arts and artists of our 18 county & two 2 sovereign nations of our region:
Saturday, October 26, 2024
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~Schedule of Events~
Join us at the SW MN Arts Council’s Annual Celebration as well as a grant-funded project in the Worthington community: Dia de los Muertos. Experience a full day of art activities and cultural events. Join the Celebration!
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Above: Artist Gustavo Boada next to Dia de Los Muertos Catrina sculptures
Below: Sculpture by artist Gustavo Boada
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Most events are held at Memorial Auditorium (besides the 2-4 pm tours listed)
•Noon (12 pm): Unveiling of two larger than life-sized, commissioned catrina figures by artist Gustavo Boada
•12-1 pm: Hispanic food tastings: tamales, esquites & pan de muerto*
(*since there are not ticket registrations for this event, food availability is first-come first-serve)
•1-1:45pm “Skeletons in the Closet: A Day of the Dead Story” by Little Coyote Puppet Theatre
•2-4 pm: Local arts organizations open for public tours/visits (various locations in Worthington): *WILL BE UPATED ON OUR WEBSITE IF CHANGES OCCUR*
•2:30-4:30pm puppet making workshop by Gustavo & Julie Boada
•4:30pm SMAC Happy Hour cash bar (local wine/beer), appetizers from Round Lake Vineyards and dessert pastries* from local baker, Whip & Mix (*since there are not ticket registrations for this event, food availability is first-come first-serve)
•5:30pm SMAC Annual Meeting plus honoring ceremony for
•6:30pm Performance TBD
•7:30pm "Spirit of the Region" Raffle Drawing event closes afterward
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Next in the Gallery: Thomas Patrick Flynn | | |
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Events
In-Person Reception
Join us on Thursday, September 12th
from 5-7 pm
509 West Main Street in Marshall
with live music from Flute Loops!
light refreshments will be available
Virtual Reception, Tour & Artist Talk on Zoom
Thursday, October 10th, 5:30 pm
Zoom Link
ID: 871 8233 6841
Passcode: 765416
Pictured left: Drag performer JoJo Ventus Ninja at the 2023 Marshall Pride Drag Show.
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Artist Bio
Thomas Patrick Flynn is a photographer living in Marshall, MN. He is also a librarian at Southwest Minnesota State University’s McFarland Library.
Though his photography style is constantly evolving and has yet to settle down and take root, he most enjoys capturing images that truly represent a location. Sometimes, it’s a bald eagle resting atop a buoy in Alaska’s Resurrection Bay. Other times, it’s an August sunset over Grand Marais. And perhaps more often, it’s an image that represents southwest Minnesota’s LGBTQ+ community, of which he is a proud member.
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Please let us know of any accommodations needed for you to enjoy any of our events, virtual or in-person: info@swmnarts.org. Visit SMAC's Access Page for more information and resources. | |
These activities are made possible by the voters of Minnesota thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
Funding provided by the McKnight Foundation. Minnesota thrives when its artists thrive. The McKnight Foundation supports working artists to create and contribute to vibrant communities.
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Welcoming Week is September 13-22, 2024 | |
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Through Welcoming Week, organizations and communities bring together neighbors of all backgrounds to build strong connections and affirm the importance of welcoming and inclusive places in achieving collective prosperity. Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF) provides funding and support for Welcoming Week celebrations in communities across our region as part of our membership in Welcoming America, the national organization behind Welcoming Week.
If your community is interested in hosting a Welcoming Week event in southwest Minnesota, SWIF wants to know! Email Than Than Kyaw to find out how SWIF can support you. Once you've got your event details, email them to info@swmnarts.org or submit them on our website so we can add them to SMAC's regional arts calendar!
Southwest Minnesota Arts Council is proud to be part of Welcoming Week as a regional partner. SMAC's role is to help promote and support communities within our 18-county & two sovereign nation region that are holding events for Welcoming Week. Check out these events:
- Kerkhoven: Sunday, September 8, 3-5:30 pm
- Glencoe: Friday, September 13, 7-9 am
- Willmar: Saturday, September 14, 2-6 pm
- Hutchinson: Sunday, September 15, 1-3 pm
- Marshall: Tuesday, September 17th, 5-7 pm
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Upcoming Virtual Grant Workshops
**Workshops are free, but registration is required**
Q&A Sessions
Join us for an overview of SMAC grant opportunities for Fiscal Year 2025 (July 2024 – June 2025), with time to ask questions about any of the grants or your specific projects. This year we’ll have grant program videos available instead of interactive workshops for each grant, so these Q&A sessions are your opportunity to get your questions answered. Register for the session(s) you prefer by clicking on the linked dates:
Reaching Underserved & Underrepresented Communities (Register here)
Tuesday October 8, 7-8 pm
Organizations will learn how to approach SMAC application questions about reaching those who may be underserved or underrepresented their communities, along with strategies for making connections.
Grant Goals & Evaluation (Register here)
Monday November 4, 7-8 pm
Organizations and individuals will learn how to create goals for their grant projects and how to plan for measuring impact.
**Workshops are free, but registration is required**
|  | Upcoming In-Person Grant Workshops | |
Q&A Sessions
Join us for an overview of SMAC grant opportunities for Fiscal Year 2025 (July 2024 – June 2025), with time to ask questions about any of the grants or your specific projects. This year we’ll have grant program videos available instead of interactive workshops for each grant, so these Q&A sessions are your opportunity to get your questions answered.
In-person grant workshops are being planned (please refer back to SMAC's Workshop & Assistance page for updated details on specific dates & times):
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This year we have grant program videos available for each grant program instead of interactive workshops for each grant. Learn about the guidelines, application questions, online grant system, and granting process for each of our grant programs for fiscal year 2025 (July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025). All videos include an introduction, overview of SW MN Arts Council, grant guidelines, website resources, grant system and application questions, and the grant process.
More coming soon!
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1st of the Month August 2024 through May 2025 or until funds are expended: | |
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Options for Grant Assistance:
Visit SMAC's Workshop & Assistance page
SW MN Arts Council grants administrator Caroline Koska (pictured left) is available to meet with you by phone, web conference, or in person to answer your questions on grant eligibility and using the application system or to review a draft of your application. Schedule a time with Caroline Koska.
Every month we hold "Open Office Hours" for grant support on the second Tuesday of the month. The office hours are from 10 am to 2 pm and the next one will be Tuesday, September 10th. You can use this time with SW MN Arts Council staff to talk through project ideas or get help with finding the right grant program, filling out your application, preparing work samples or budgets, or completing your final report.
You can also call 800-622-5284 or email us info@swmnarts.org with your questions. Please let us know of any accommodations needed for you to attend any of our events, virtual or in-person. View SMAC's Access page for more information.
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For each of our monthly grants (Quick Support for Organizations or Artists, Arts in the Schools grants, and Art Study Opportunity for Youth Grants), there is one pool of funding for the fiscal year, rather than for individual rounds. Funds are granted to approved applications until the fiscal year’s budget is depleted. This means it’s possible that we may close grant programs before the end of our "grant season" (fiscal year) if we have already awarded all of the funds.
For our grant programs that have multiple rounds (Art Project, Artist Equity, and Artist Growth) the budget is divided evenly per round, so there is no possibility of later rounds being cancelled. However, if you applied in the first round but were not awarded, you would still have a chance to apply again with the same (or an improved) application in subsequent rounds.
View our current grant calendar or visit SMAC's Workshop & Assistance Page to learn more!
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SMAC Board: Will YOU join us and represent your county or sovereign nation?
SMAC is seeking representatives from three counties and two sovereign nations to serve on our board of directors: Big Stone, Renville, Yellow Medicine, Upper Sioux and Lower Sioux
Do you live or work in one of these communities? Do you want to volunteer in a meaningful way? Are you interested in helping your community? Are you passionate about arts awareness & funding and where & how those funds are distributed?
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SMAC's Board of Directors has seven vacant board seats. We are seeking a representative from each of the counties and sovereign nations listed above to serve. The Board meets monthly on the 4th Tuesday evening at the SMAC office in Marshall or on Zoom to set policies, make final decisions on grant awards with input from grant review panels, share ideas and information from their representative communities, and to design programs that enable SMAC to best serve our communities.
Other opportunities include serving on several grant panels a year to evaluate applications, attending a yearly board retreat in January, learning opportunities and trainings on Access, Equity, Inclusion & Diversity and more!
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Would you like to help SMAC review and score grant applications?
The SMAC Board of Directors continually seeks panels of artists, arts administrators, arts volunteers, and arts appreciators representing multiple artistic disciplines from throughout the SMAC geographic region and from all our communities including BIPOC, people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA2S+ individuals. Being a grant panelist is a positive way to strengthen your grantwriting skills by understanding the process as a whole. It's also a great way to learn and support what exciting projects are happening in rural SW MN!
Panelists are compensated $75 for a panel. More details on being a SMAC panelist
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For more opportunities and resources be sure to check out our latest news posts on SMAC's website.
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Looking for arts events to attend? Check out our regional arts calendar!
We are continuing to post both in-person and virtual arts events in our region on our website calendar. If you have events to let us know about, please email the details to info@swmnarts.org! Remember, these don't have to be SMAC grant funded events, just arts events in our 18-county region!
Have something that's not an event, but an arts opportunity, like a RFP or call for local artists? We'll add it to our opportunities posts! Send us those, too!
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Lets work together to create a robust arts calendar for our region!! | | |
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Memberships
From July 30 to August 29, 2024
Contributors: Euince Woodberry, Jackson •
Raymond & Alice Thull, Lucan • Lac qui Parle County Historical Society, Madison • A to Z Letterpress Printing/Andy Kahmann, Motevideo •
Supporters: Judy Beckman, Ortonville •
Sustainers: Glen & Jackie Herfurth, Montevideo •
| SMAC Members will get an "I Love Rural Arts" Sticker! (pictured left) | |
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General Donations: Mary Frisvold, Garvin • John Voit, Ghent • Kerry Ward, Glencoe • John Ginocchio, Marshall • Valerie Quist, Tracy • Cheryl Avenel-Navara, Worthington •
Would you like to become a contributing member of SMAC or make a donation?
You can help by contributing online or by mail, for more information, visit Become a SMAC member!
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THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE ARTS! | |
2024 SW MN Arts Council BOARD OF DIRECTORS | |
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Big Stone - OPEN
Jackson - Eunice Woodberry
Lincoln - Mark Wilmes
Meeker - Darlene Kotelnicki
Pipestone - Erica Volkir
Rock - Shawn Kinsinger
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Chippewa - M E (Maggie) Fuller
Kandiyohi - Ana Serrano
Lower Sioux/Cansa'yapi - OPEN
Lyon - Dr. Erin Kline
Murray - Tiffany Holmes
Redwood - Su Kyung Lee
Swift - Jessica Mata
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Cottonwood - Anna Johannsen
Lac qui Parle - Kristine Shelstad
McLeod - Lisa Hill
Nobles - Cheryl Avenel-Navara
Renville - OPEN
Upper Sioux/Pezihutazizi - OPEN
Yellow Medicine - OPEN
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Executive Director - Nicole DeBoer
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Grants & Financial Administrator - Caroline Koska
Accessibility & Marketing Coordinator - Krystl Louwagie
Communications Assistant: Jessica Stölen
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The Southwest Minnesota Arts Council (SMAC) is a non-profit organization committed to promoting and encouraging the development of the arts in the eighteen counties and two sovereign nations of southwestern Minnesota by serving as a source of funds and technical services which enable local organizations, educational institutions, and individuals to sponsor and/or create and promote the arts in their communities.
SMAC receives funding from individuals, businesses, organizations, schools, cities, counties, private foundations including the McKnight Foundation, an allocation from the State of Minnesota, and a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund, made possible by the voters of Minnesota.
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