Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council
April News & Events
| | Stained glass by Leah Higbe, Bluff Country Studio Art Tour. | | SEMAC Awards Grants to Individual Artists & Culture Bearers | | |
On March 10, 2026, SEMAC's Board of Directors awarded 12 Project Support for Individual Artists & Culture Bearers grants for a total of $53,955. These project grants are meant to encourage creatives living in SEMAC's 11-county region to take the next step in their artistic pursuits by providing the financial support needed to experiment, take on a challenge, or deepen their practice.
To see a list of the grant recipients and their projects, click on the link below.
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SEMAC is launching an Emergency Relief Fund (ERF) designed to provide rapid, short-term assistance for individual artists and culture bearers facing unexpected hardship. The funds are meant to help stabilize recipients so they can keep creating. Through a random selection process, SEMAC will make one-time gifts of $500 each to 60 creatives living in the 11-county region, 20 per selection round.
The application opens April 21. All submissions received by May 19 will be included in the pool for selection round 1 with notification on May 29. The submission deadline for round 2 is July 7 and the deadline for round 3 is September 15. Applications that are not selected in a round will be included in the next selection round.
SEMAC and Minnesota’s other regional arts councils form the Artists Emergency Relief Fund Network, which is stewarded by Springboard for the Arts and supported in part by the F.R. Bigelow Foundation, the Jerome Foundation, the McKnight Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation.
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Q&A Sessions with SEMAC Staff
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Friday, May 8, 2026 | 2-3p CT
and
Tuesday, May 12, 2026 | 6-7p CT
| | SEMAC staff is holding two virtual Q&A sessions about the ERF program and application process, and a video recording that goes through the application step-by-step will be available soon. Register below for one of the Q&A's or sign up to receive the video when it is complete. | | |
Community Care for Creatives:
with Sarah Johnson
| | A Moment to Breathe & Be Together | | Taking a moment to pause, breathe, and be together can offer a brief respite when the demands, injustices, and strains of the world don't stop. Join us for a free, 15-minute virtual opportunity to reset together with community engaged artist Sarah Johnson of The Joy Labs, hosted by SEMAC. Sarah will offer a short framing and a guided practice to tap into our own wisdom and groundedness. Attend one or both sessions as works for you. | | Tuesday, April 21, 2026
12-12:15p CT | | Wednesday, May 6, 2026
12-12:15p CT | | |
Virtual via Zoom.
Free, registration required.
You are invited to drop in at any point during the sessions.
Please note that these sessions will not be recorded.
Automated Zoom captions will be available.
| | Organizational Skills Workshop Series | | Strategy, Planning, Outcomes:
Bridging Your Strategy Work with Ground Level Impacts | | Thursday, April 23, 2026
1-3p CT | | |
Are you looking to understand how strategy, planning, and outcomes show up in your work in the nonprofit sector?
Join us for this free workshop, presented by Propel Nonprofits, to explore the connections between organizational strategy and service impacts. You will walk away from this training with an understanding of the nine gears of effective nonprofits, strategy planning frameworks, and the practical application of outcomes development.
| | Registration for this virtual workshop is required. Please note, this workshop will not be recorded. | | This workshop is the final in a series of four professional development workshops for organizations that SEMAC offered in 2025-2026. Look for information about a new series to start this fall. | |
Doing More (for Less): Free, Cheap, & Easy Strategies to Jumpstart Disability Inclusion with Scott Artley, CPACC
| | Scott Artley, who has light skin, a buzzed bald head, and trimmed orange beard. Scott wears a colorful plaid flannel shirt, a gold nose hoop, burgundy glasses, and a smile. photo by Trista Marie Photography | | An accessibility workshop for individual artists, culture bearers, and arts organizations in SEMAC’s region | |
Wednesday April 29, 2026
6-7:30p CT
| | "Where do we even begin?" It's the sincere, but overwhelming, question that kicks off every journey to better integrate people with disabilities into our work as arts organizations and artists. In this lively, practical session, accessibility consultant Scott Artley shares concrete ways arts practitioners at any level can make meaningful progress on disability access without needing a massive budget or an accessibility department. This workshop is appropriate for beginners or folks ready to expand their accessibility toolkit. | | |
Virtual via Zoom.
Free, registration required.
Automated Zoom captions will be available.
This session is best enjoyed live with the interactive elements,
but it will also be recorded and available for a limited time.
Additional accessibility accommodations are available upon request via the registration form, or contact Sharon Mansur, Outreach & Accessibility Manager, directly at sharon@semac.org, 507.322.1088, 711 TTY.
Visit SEMAC's new Accessibility Resources for Artists & Culture Bearers list for services, tools, funding, and additional support regarding accessibility in the arts.
| | Arts Advocacy Day in Review | | Puppets from In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre
at Arts Advocacy Day 2026, Minnesota Capitol Rotunda. photo by Sara Cutlip | | |
Minnesota arts were alive and flourishing during Arts Advocacy Day 2026! More than 450 advocates attended to rally for the importance of the arts at the Minnesota capitol on March 3.
SEMAC hosted our first pre-rally breakfast meet-up at the Centennial cafe, where we provided attending advocates from southeastern Minnesota with coffee, bagels, and other treats. About a dozen wonderful people joined us; we hope to make this a yearly tradition!
Whether you were able to join us, or supported us from afar, your presence contributes to assuring that our legislators see firsthand the impact that the arts have on the quality of life in Minnesota. Arts advocacy is more than just a day; art is the backbone of society. From fueling local economies through events and tourism, bridging connections between different communities, and providing a medium to communicate the realities of personal lived experience, art is a driving force of society and an essential foundation of the shared human experience.
Thank you Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA), for putting together this important annual event and for all they do to ensure the future of the arts in Minnesota.
| | SEMAC-Funded Public Events | | April's arts and cultural events are made possible with the generous support of Minnesota taxpayers through the Legacy Amendment's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. | | |
Fancy dancers of The Ojibwe
Friday, April 3 | 2-3p
Winona Public Library
Winona, MN
Join Robert Armstrong, master puppeteer and member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, as he presents a brief history of pow wow gatherings and fancy dancers. Robert will demonstrate a marionette fancy dancer puppet that he has created.
This free public event will be followed by a short Q&A.
| | Kallie Rollenhagen Photography | |
Sewing Rural Seeds of Plenty Artist Reception
Thursday, April 9 | 6-7p
St. Mane Theatre
Lanesboro, MN
Sewing Rural Seeds of Plenty is a quilt project from Caledonia-based artist Melissa Wray. While pondering her connection to hope and curiosity as a rural resident, Wray created two hand-appliqued art quilts as a nuanced love letter to rural southeast Minnesota. At this reception, the two quilts will be on display; there will be a brief artist reflection shared, as well as an audience Q&A.
| | Q&A with Erik Jensen (director of "Brooklyn, Minnesota") and Nick Evert (RIFF Co-director & former MN filmmaker) at Pop's Art Theater, 2025 Film Festival. | | |
Rochester International Film Festival
Thursday, April 9 through Sunday, April 12
Various times
Pop's Art Theatre
Rochester, MN
Rochester International Film Festival will present 8 current feature films at Pop's Art Theater, including films from Minnesota, Nordic countries, Europe, and Asia. Some films will be in English, and those not in English will be shown in original languages with subtitles. The festival's documentary, comedy, and drama films, intended for a multi-generational audience, have not screened in SE Minnesota movie theaters nor streamed widely.
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From 2D to 3D with Andrew Rivera
Saturday, April 18 | 10a-4p
Red Wing Arts Clay & Creative Center
Red Wing, MN
In this workshop, students will explore the structural possibilities of slab construction, moving beyond basic tiles to create dynamic forms. Using pre-made slabs, students will be guided through the entire process from tracing templates, to construction, and finishing touches. Learn techniques for rolling and prepping sturdy slabs, creating strong joints and seams, and finishing touches for a refined piece.
This workshop is part of The Artist’s Studio Series, a program designed to increase access to training and education for working artists.
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Wolves of Impermanence Concert and Conversation
Saturday, April 18 | 7-8:30p
Doors open at 6:30p
St. Mane Theatre
Lanesboro, MN
Annie Mack is a soulful singer and unflinching songwriter who writes from the gut and demands your attention.
Artistically this work will examine relatable themes that directly impact so many in our community: death, love, grief, queerness, healing, activism, and critical hope in the midst of devastating times. Wolves of impermanence is meant to elevate a relevant perspective and honor lived experience and legacy in a time when the human experience feels exceptionally fragile.
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Heirloom Fire: Czech Glasswork
Sunday, April 19 | 2p
Owatonna Arts Center
Owatonna, MN
Join Minnesota jewelry artist Andrea Turini for the first stop on her art tour throughout southeastern Minnesota. These presentations will bring audiences inside the living traditions of Czech glass and beadmaking. This cultural heritage presentation draws from her firsthand experiences in Jablonec nad Nisou, a region long recognized as a world center of bead and button production. Through original photos and video, Andrea explores the cultural history of the Czech glass industry, generational craft traditions, and the resilience of a cottage industry that once fed an entire region. Audiences get a hands-on look at the process - handling sample beads at different production stages and examining the massive iron button molds that appear in Andrea's factory footage.
Andrea's presentation will be available throughout the year at various locations around southeastern Minnesota. Visit her website to find a location near you!
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Unlocked Voices Reception
Thursday, April 23 | 6-8p
Northfield Arts Guild | Up Gallery
Northfield, MN
Northfield Union of Youth (NUY) presents our 2025 show, Unlocked Voices, a diverse series of artwork from our youth at NUY. Join us for a reception where we will have light refreshments, with good company and conversation.
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Bluff Country Studio Art Tour 2026
Friday, April 24 through Sunday, April 26
10a-5p daily
20 locations featuring 33 artists/galleries
Fillmore, Houston, & Winona counties
Celebrating 25 years of art and creativity in southeastern Minnesota. Explore the art and scenery of southeastern Minnesota during this self-guided tour featuring more than 30 artists, studios and galleries, artist demonstrations, and completed works presented for sale.
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Byron in Bloom Opening Reception
Saturday, April 25 | 2p
Byron Community Education Center
Byron, MN
Join us opening day for a Maker Trading Activity, starting at 2:30 pm. Participants from all workshops and community members are invited to participate! Bring 5-10 small, handmade items (jewelry, a tiny sketch, baked goods, a mini-painting on canvas or paper, a postcard, a craft, a poem, a small ceramic piece, etc.) and exchange them with other attendees. This is a unique opportunity to celebrate the spirit of making and take home a new piece of art, straight from a local creator. Please register before the event.
The Byron in Bloom Exhibition, a dynamic showcase featuring artworks created by Byron residents, spanning grade 3 through adulthood, will run from Saturday, April 25, through Friday, May 15.
| | Logo designed by Jer Lanska | |
Becoming Lake City Podcast Launch Party
Sunday, April 26 | 1p
Lake City Area Arena
Lake City, MN
Becoming Lake City is a brand-new podcast that shines a spotlight on the everyday folks who help make Lake City extraordinary. Through heartfelt and surprising stories, award-winning storyteller Dawn Mikkelson strives to capture the spirit, charm, and quirks that make this little town by the lake feel like home. This event will celebrate the residents whose stories are told in the first season. Listen to David Ross Wilson of Root River Jam perform some of the original music composed for the podcast and ask questions of Producer Dawn Mikkelson.
| | Show poster designed by Julie Van Grol | |
The Odyssey! The Musical!
Tuesday, April 28 through
Thursday, April 30 | 8-10p
Umess Recital Hall | St. Olaf College
Northfield, MN
St. Olaf students and faculty present the world premiere of The Odyssey! The Musical!, an original musical comedy adaptation of the timeless Homeric epic by Louis Epstein and Daniel Groll. A blend of Broadway musical, concept album, Disney fairy tale, and operetta, The Odyssey! The Musical! explores themes of love and loss, deviousness and triumph, and the foibles of human nature. Kids, tweens, college students, adults, and even Classics scholars will find something to love in this sometimes riotous, sometimes heart-wrenching, always gripping story about the obstacles we overcome to make our way home.
| | 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 these individuals and organizations, we aim to share how our grants have benefited artists and their communities. This month, we feature Austin ArtWorks Festival’s Emerging Artists Program organized by Austin Area Arts. | | Emerging artists and their mentor (Pen McVay, Dinorah Vazquez, Christina Donley, ARK, Nicktae Marroquin-Haslett, Love Quetee, Selena Medellin, Bianca Wilson, Geoffrey Tollefson) at the 2024 Festival grounds. photo submitted by Austin Area Arts | | |
The Austin ArtWorks Festival is a free two-day event in Austin, Minnesota, held annually each August since 2012. It attracts an estimated 8,000 people from throughout Minnesota and beyond, and is beloved by the residents, community partners, and local businesses in Austin. Organized by Austin Area Arts, this event is a celebration of visual, performing, and literary artists. The Festival features over 75 visual artists each year who set up their tents in the park to sell their original handmade work. These artists – painters, jewelers, potters, woodworkers, fiber artists, and more – are selected through a competitive jury process, making this one of the best art fairs in Minnesota!
Art fairs are an incredible way for the public to interact with artists and provide direct support by purchasing their work, but preparing for these events takes a lot of work, time, and resources that many younger artists do not have and cannot afford. This is especially true for artists from marginalized communities. Recognizing this, Austin Area Arts launched an Emerging Artists Program in 2023 to provide these younger artists with the opportunity to participate in the Festival and with the hope that they would gain the necessary tools to pursue similar opportunities in the future. Austin Area Arts’s co-executive director Kelsey Ritchie wrote, “The Emerging Artists Program is an incredibly important part of what we do at the ArtWorks Festival. It gives less experienced artists the opportunity to gain real knowledge and hands-on experience in a supportive environment.”
| | Meet our New SEMAC Board Member | | |
"I am excited to join the SEMAC board because I have a passion for intellectual property law and I have thoroughly enjoyed my previous experiences working with artists through MnLA.”- Christopher Porter
We are excited to welcome our newest addition to the SEMAC Board of Directors! A litigation and intellectual property attorney with an affection for the arts, Christopher Porter helps clients protect their creations and enforce their rights through trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and commercial litigation. As former philosophy major turned attorney, Chris brings his unique experiences and sharp analytical reasoning to a broad spectrum of legal challenges. Chris is a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association’s Copyright Committee and Trademark Litigation Committee, the Olmsted County Bar Association, and provides pro bono legal assistance through Minnesota Lawyers for the Arts (Springboard). We can't wait to see the impact Chris's talents and unique perspective will have on SEMAC.
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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.
We currently have vacancies on the Board for representatives from Fillmore, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona Counties.
If you or someone you know is interested in applying for these service opportunities, please follow these links for more information:
| | 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. | | | | |
