Stephanie Cox and Chérif Kéita present Comic Book About Zulu Southeast MN Connection. Photo by Kallie Rollenhagen

All non-profit organizations across our 11-county region are encouraged to apply for grants from SEMAC to support arts programming planned for fall and winter 2025-2026. This includes arts organizations, non-arts organizations, local government and tribal entities, and schools (K-12 as well as colleges and universities). The application opens March 1 with a March 30 submission deadline. Based on feedback from SEMAC's recent Needs Assessment Survey, this is now a one-step application process -- a Letter of Intent is no longer required.

Available Grants:

Legacy Grants: Up to $10,000

Small Towns/Rural Areas Grants: Up to $5,000

Programming Grants: Up to $5,000

Apply online at SEMAC's grant portal. Questions? Call (507) 281-4848 or email staff@semac.org for assistance.

Make your voice heard for the arts! Join SEMAC and fellow arts advocates from across Minnesota for Arts Action Week, March 3rd-7th, 2025. The excitement kicks off online March 3rd, followed by an in-person rally at the State Capitol Rotunda on March 4th at 10 AM.

Tuesday, March 18 | 6-8p

via Zoom

Every other year, the Regional Arts Councils throughout the state are required by the Minnesota State Arts Board to submit a Biennial Plan that sets priorities for the two upcoming fiscal years. This spring plans are due for fiscal years 2026 and 2027!

Each regional arts council’s plan is based on input from the communities we serve. SEMAC’s plan was shaped by the results of the Needs Assessment Survey we conducted this fall to which more than 200 artists, arts professionals, arts supporters, and members of the general public responded. But, participation from the community in this planning process does not end there!

On Tuesday, March 18, we will hold a public meeting on Zoom to go through the key points and to hear your input. The document will be available on the SEMAC website starting March 13, giving community members time to review before providing input at the Zoom meeting. Additionally, there will be an option to give written feedback on the website through March 24 if you are unable to attend the virtual meeting.

Explore the many opportunities to support SEMAC-funded capstone events happening this month:

Horacio Nuguid and Friends

Saturday, March 1 | 7:30p

Christ United Methodist Church

Rochester, MN

Rochester Chamber Music Society presents acclaimed pianist Horacio Nuguid and distinguished members of the Minnesota Orchestra's string section for an evening of masterful chamber music. The program features Schumann's magnificent Piano Quintet in E-flat Major, a cornerstone of 19th-century chamber repertoire, alongside trios by Mozart and Shostakovich. This exceptional collaboration brings together Nuguid with violinists Helen Chang Haertzen and Stephanie Arado, violist Sifei Cheng, and cellist Wilhelmina Smith.

Marching into Mardi Gras with Loud Mouth Brass and the John Marshall High School Jazz Band

Tuesday, March 4 | 6:30p

Historic Chateau Theatre

Rochester, MN

Loud Mouth Brass celebrates their new 'Lost Time' album featuring new tunes by John Sievers ('Tunnel Vision,' 'Lost Time,' 'Effervescence'), Melanie Brooks Dinh ('Loud Mouth Baby'), Alex Ortberg ('Tuba Toothpaste'), and Zach Sander ('The Depths'). The amazing John Marshall High School Jazz Band opens the show, and both bands will join forces for some special performances. Bring the whole family - it's free admission and albums will be available!  

International Festival of Owls

March 7-9 | Times Vary

International Center for Owls

Houston, MN

Join the International Owl Center for the 2025 International Festival of Owls in Houston, Minnesota. This unique celebration, North America's original full-weekend owl festival, attracts thousands of owl enthusiasts from around the globe. Experience live owl demonstrations, the International Kids' Owl Art Contest exhibit, expert presentations, and the prestigious World Owl Hall of Fame ceremony. Started in 2003 and now operated by the International Owl Center, this family-friendly event transforms Houston into the owl capital of North America each spring.

Theatre Du Mississippi Presents Original One Acts

March 1, 7, 8 | 7p

March 2, 9 | 2p

Valencia Arts Center

Winona, MN

Don't miss Theatre du Mississippi's Original One-Acts - an evening of short plays exploring modern life, love, and connection. Local playwrights and performers bring you four unique stories filled with humor, heart, and unexpected twists. From social media mishaps to family secrets, these fresh voices capture what it means to be human today.

Dallas Brass:

American Musical Journey

March 18 & 19 | 7p

Sheldon Theatre

Red Wing, MN

Join the Sheldon Theatre for an evening with the Dallas Brass - masters of brass and percussion since 1983! Founded by Michael Levine, this ensemble brings their signature sound alongside special guests: Sheldon Brass Band (March 18) and Lake City High School Band (March 19). Their unique blend of traditional brass and percussion continues to captivate audiences nationwide!

Rochester Community Band presents Springing Into Music

Thursday, March 20 | 7p

Byron Middle School Auditorium

Byron, MN

Join the Rochester Community Band for a delightful evening of music. The concert is performed by music lovers from all walks of life and all ages. RCB will be directed by Anthony Boldt with our guest director and composer, Elijah Gray.  Selections include “Selections from Wicked”, “Journey of a Comet”, “Cyrus the Great March”, “Beneath the Canopy”, and two pieces composed by Elijah - “Psalmody” and “Maverick Fanfare”.  Bring the whole family and enjoy the music!

New Media Opera Featuring Scenes from Kevin Dobbe's Tempus Fugit

March 28 - 29 | 7:30p

Rochester Civic Theatre

Rochester, MN

Experience this unique fusion of traditional opera and cutting-edge technology. Tempus Fugit, a contemporary opera by Kevin Dobbe exploring time and humanity, featuring vocalists Carla Thelen Hanson and Andrew Whitfield with dancer Brigette Benyi. This innovative performance combines live artistry with digital projections and motion capture technology.

The evening concludes with celebrated opera scenes by Verdi, Puccini, Dvořák, and others, featuring Hometown Opera Company. Choreographer Isiah Giberson-Asplund weaves modern dance with classical music, enhanced by striking visual projections.

Quilting the Minnesota Barn Quilt Trail Lindsay Krage Artist Reception

Monday, March 31 | 5-8p

Anthem Skate Park

Winona, MN

Quilting the Barn Quilt Trail will feature the work of Lindsay Krage as she traveled and documented the barn quilt trail in Houston County, MN. The show will feature a short film, photographs, information from the owners of the barn quilts, along with several quilts recreated in fabric form. This project aims to take note of the beauty of rural spaces and connect the timeless nature of craft and rural life. A word from the artist is scheduled at 5:30p.

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 Martha Larson's There is No Ground: Explorations in Music & Movement.

Martha Larson's There is No Ground capstone performance - a colorful runner painted by the community.

Pushing the boundaries of traditional performance, cellist Martha Larson's project There Is No Ground reimagines what happens when musicians break free from their chairs—and their comfort zones. Through a creative collaboration with choreographer Shari Setchell and fellow musicians Wendy Placko and Brian Johnson, this innovative performance dissolves the typical barriers between movement and music, performer and audience. Supported by a 2024 SEMAC Individual Artist grant, Larson's vision transforms the concert experience into an immersive celebration where everyone is invited to participate in the creative conversation between sound, body, and space. Learn more about Martha and her project at the link below.

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