Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council
February News & Events
| | The snow wasset puppet, for use in Folklore of Wild Places. Nat Wilson - photographer and director | | |
SEMAC acknowledges the incredible stress, sadness, horror, anger, and fear so many of us are experiencing in reaction to the intimidating, cruel, and lethal actions of federal agents in Minneapolis, southeast Minnesota, and several other Minnesota communities over the past several weeks. Like so many others, we are deeply moved by how our communities have come together to support friends, neighbors, and strangers who are being targeted and whose lives have been disrupted.
It is no surprise that artists and culture bearers have been at the forefront of this response through direct action, information sharing, community-building efforts, and creative expression. Art is powerful. It can communicate ideas and emotions in ways that allow us to understand one another’s experiences, create deep connections, and be inspired. Regardless of its form or content, the act of creating is essential to our well-being and capacity to respond to the intense times through which we are living.
We want you to know that SEMAC is here for you. While we are continuing our work to provide support to individual artists, culture bearers, and organizations through our grant programs and professional development opportunities, we also have been connecting with community groups throughout our region to understand needs and help amplify the work they are doing to raise cultural awareness and provide opportunities for creative expression. Please reach out to let us know about the work you are doing and how we might help.
Please follow this link for a list of community care resources we compiled including creative support and inspiration, as well as legal, mental health, and other community support in our region.
| Congratulations to SEMAC's
Recent Grant Recipients | | On January 13, 2026, the SEMAC Board of Directors awarded grants to 9 applicants for a total of $40,950 in funding. This includes four Artists & Culture Bearers in the Schools grants and five General Operating Support grants. See a full list of recipients at the link below! | | SEMAC Seeks Board Members | |
SEMAC is seeking artists and culture bearers, arts administrators, and arts supporters from Fillmore, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona counties to join our Board of Directors this spring. SEMAC is one of eleven Regional Arts Councils designated by the State of Minnesota to make final decisions on the use of allocations from the state’s general fund and from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund to support local and regional arts development.
The SEMAC Board is primarily responsible for setting policy, overseeing administration, and approving grants. Board meetings are held virtually every other month and there is an annual in-person retreat that typically takes place in June or July. Each director is eligible to receive a $100 stipend for each meeting they attend. A director may serve up to two three-year terms.
This is an exciting time to be part of SEMAC’s leadership as we review our mission, vision, and values to prepare for our 50th anniversary in late 2027!
For more information about how to apply or to nominate someone, please contact Anastasia Shartin, executive director, at anastasia@semac.org. Potential candidates may also complete a SEMAC Service Opportunities application on the grant interface.
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Work of Art Workshops Winter 2026 Business Skills for Artists
& Culture Bearers
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SEMAC’s partnership with Springboard for the Arts and their Work of Art: Business Skills for Artists workshop series continues!
There are two more sessions offered virtually this winter to individual artists and culture bearers living in SEMAC's region - and both are free to attend!
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Promotions
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
6-8:30p CST
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Pricing
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
6-8:30p CST
| | These workshops are a part of Springboard's 12-part Work of Art: Business Skills for Artists series, a professional development curriculum designed to teach business skills to artists in all disciplines. The curriculum is always available for free download, or you can buy a copy of the book to support your practice. | Please note that these sessions will not be recorded.
Automated Zoom captions will be available. | | Organizational Skills Workshop Series | |
Mastering Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Across Generations and Diverse Populations
Thursday, February 19, 2026
1-3p CST
presented by the Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement (MAVA)
This free workshop will focus on strategies to prioritize people-centered practices for recruitment and retention of prospective volunteers. We will unlock the potential of your recruitment and retention efforts by centering your strategies in inclusive practices and approaches. This interactive workshop focuses on effective strategies to support creating a robust recruitment plan and understanding volunteer motivations linked to retention and overall satisfaction.
Registration for this virtual workshop is required.
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This workshop is the third in a series of four professional development workshops for organizations that SEMAC is offering in 2025 - 2026. The fourth, Strategy, Planning, Outcomes: Bridging Your Strategy Work with Ground Level Impacts, will be held on April 23, 2026, from
1 to 4 pm by Propel Nonprofits.
| | Please note that these workshops will not be recorded. | | SEMAC's February Public Events | | February's arts and cultural events are made possible through the generous support of Minnesota taxpayers through the Legacy Amendment's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. | | |
Frozen River Film Festival
Sunday, February 1
through Sunday, February 8
Winona, MN: various locations
Online Viewing
Sunday, February 8
through Wednesday, February 18
on their website
The Frozen River Film Festival is a community-based event that celebrates documentary films from around the world, with a strong focus on environmental, cultural, and social storytelling. It brings filmmakers and audiences together to experience thought-provoking films while fostering dialogue, creativity, and appreciation for diverse perspectives.
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Spotlight Academy
Divisions 1-3
Tuesday, February 3
through Thursday, February 5
4:30-5:30p
Rochester Community and
Technical College Hill Theatre
Rochester, MN
This showcase is the culmination of an eight-week long theatre training program led by long-time RCTC theatre instructor and actor Jerry Casper. Join students, grades 3 through 12,as they perform a variety of plays, skits, and monologues. These performances allow young actors to demonstrate the skills they developed in a supportive public performance setting.
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Finding a Place
Tuesday, February 3 | 6p
No Name Bar.
Winona, MN
This is a free short 45 minute documentary by Winona artist La Vonte Thompson. Watch his journey as he interviews three local queer folks and shares their experience being queer in the community, over time and as a whole.
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Folklore of Wild Places
Saturday, February 7 | 7p
Northfield Depot
Northfield, MN
"Thin places" can refer to spaces where the boundaries between this world and another are blurred. Places that are wild, isolated, or strange can be thin, where people encounter ghosts and fantastical creatures. During this free event, two stories about thin places will be performed as shadow puppet plays. This will be followed by a Q&A with Nat Wilson and the cast, as well as a demonstration of the shadow puppet techniques used in the show.
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An Evening with Charlie Parr
at the St. Mane Theatre
Saturday, February 7 | 7p
St. Mane Theatre
Lanesboro, MN
Lanesboro Arts is proud to be completing year two of the Rural Arts Production Training Program. Participants in this program are trained by experienced performing arts production technicians through a series of workshops including stage management, audio production, and basic lighting control and design. This event will be the capstone for the program showcasing the skills of each participant with Charlie Parr on stage.
This event is currently SOLD OUT. However, they will have a waitlist for any tickets that may become available in the lobby of the St. Mane Theatre at 6pm the evening of the event!
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What Lights Our Way
Opening Reception
Thursday, February 19 | 6-8p
Northfield Arts Guild Up Gallery
Northfield MN
“What Lights Our Way” is a collection of new photographs by artist Kent McInnis. This collection of portraits explores not just the individuals featured in each image, but the modern electronics, and the lights they emit, as an intrinsic part of their daily lives, as well as their identity. This exhibition will be on view February 16 through March 22.
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Creative Community Leaders Capstone Celebration
Friday, February 20 | 5-7p
Winona County History Center
Winona, MN
This special evening showcases the creative mini-projects of three artists who were part of Engage Winona’s Creative Community Leaders cohort in the Lived Experience Leaders program. From photography curation to movement for connection, and zines exploring sandlot baseball, each artist has much to reflect on and celebrate. Doors open at 5 pm with light refreshments, followed by a short program at 5:30 pm.
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Big Turn Music Fest
various times and locations
Friday, February 20
& Saturday, February 21
Red Wing, MN
Experience Red Wing through music in historic downtown with 2 days featuring Alan Sparhawk, Charlie Parr, and Davina and the Vagabonds, plus over 100 artists across 12 venues with games and wintry fun. Yeah, buoy!
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Young People's Concerts
Thursday, February 24 | 10a & 10:30a
John Marshall Auditorium
Rochester, MN
Rochester Symphony will perform for Southeastern Minnesota 3rd-5th grade students from public, private, charter, and home school situations. The program will include Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf with RPS Superintendent Kent Pekel narrating as well as works by Mozart and Dvorak. This event requires reservations in advance. For more information, email erinh@rochestersymphony.org.
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WSO Children's Concert
Tuesday, February 24 | 9a & 10:30a
Winona Middle School Auditorium
Winona, MN
The annual WSO Children's Concert this year features the story of Babar the Elephant set to music by French Composer Francis Poulenc! The event is geared for late elementary school age students, but is engaging for all students who are welcome to attend.
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The 39 Steps Stage Play
February 27, 28, March 6, 7 | 7p
March 1, 8 | 2p
St. Mane Theater
Lanesboro, MN
Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have this intriguing, thrilling, riotous and unmissable comedy. Join Lanesboro Community Theatre for their performance of The 39 Steps, as their cast of four actors play over 150 characters in this fast-paced tale of an ordinary man on an extraordinarily entertaining adventure.
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Arts Advocacy Day is March 3, 2026
Register Today!
| | Join Minnesota Citizens for the Arts and arts supporters from throughout the state at the Minnesota State Capitol for Arts Advocacy Day on Tuesday, March 3. The rally will start at 10 am in the Capitol Rotunda. Meetings with legislators will be scheduled throughout the day from 11 am to 4 pm where you can ask them to support the Legacy Fund and state arts funding and thank them for their support last session. |
| 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 two Somali Independence Day Celebrations hosted by Somali American Service Association (SASSA) and Hiddo Soor. | | Photograph from 2025 Owatonna Somali Cultural Festival submitted by Hiddo Soor | | On July 6, 2025, two Somali Independence Day Celebrations took place in southeast Minnesota with more than 600 Somali elders, youth, families, and community leaders coming together to celebrate liberation, unity, and cultural heritage. One celebration was held at the Rochester Community and Technical College and the other in Owatonna’s Central Park. Both of these vital and vibrant community gatherings were supported in part with grants from SEMAC. | | |
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:
| | 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. | | | | |
