Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council
November News & Events
| | American Idiot, performed by the Calliope Theatre, 2026, Rochester Civic Theatre, Rochester, MN. Image courtesy of the Calliope Theatre. | | |
Organizational Sustainability & Capacity Building Grants | This program awards $1,000 to $5,000 to provide nonprofit arts organizations with the support needed to adapt to change, work on new strategies, develop competencies, or to improve processes and systems. Eligible proposals may contain, but are not limited to, feasibility studies for accessibility, strategic planning, financial consultation, and professional development opportunities for staff. | Submission deadline: Wednesday, November 18, 2026 | | |
Step-by-Step Videos & Applicant Journey | Is this your first time applying for a grant, or would you like more information about the application process for this grant?
A series of videos going through the application step-by-step is available on our YouTube. Also make sure to read the accompanying Applicant Journey PDF, which provides a deep dive into the grant opportunity and the application process. | | SEMAC staff invite applicants to join a free virtual Q & A session where we will be available to answer questions about this grant opportunity and application. | | Friday, November 13, 2026 | 12 noon-1p CT | | |
Artists & Culture Bearers in the Schools Grants | |
This program awards $2,000 to $4,000 to provide students in grades K-12 with opportunities to work directly with artists and culture bearers during the school day. Grant activities must supplement the school’s arts curriculum and not be a substitute for these basic requirements. Residencies can be in any discipline, including but not limited to, painting, photography, printmaking, textiles, music, dance, theater, storytelling, literary arts, intermedia arts, and traditional arts.
The lead applicant may be an artist or culture bearer living in SEMAC's region or the school in SEMAC's region where the residency will take place.
No public event is required, however the participating school must agree to share the residency in their district’s communications to families, with the School Board, and/or with any local press contacts to raise awareness of the importance of the arts.
| | Submission deadline: November 30, 2026 | | |
Step-by-Step Videos & Applicant Journey | |
Is this your first time applying for a grant, or would you like more information about the application process for this grant?
A series of videos going through the application step-by-step is available on our YouTube. Also make sure to read the accompanying Applicant Journey PDF, which provides a deep dive into the grant opportunity and the application process.
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Project Support for Individual Artists & Culture Bearers Grants | |
This grant program awards $2,000 to $6,000 to individual artists and culture bearers living in the 11-county SEMAC region to take the next step in their creative pursuits by providing the financial support needed to experiment, take on a challenge, or deepen their practice. The grant proposal must be used to support the creation of new work and include an opportunity for public engagement with that work.
There are two categories for these project grants: Emerging and Advancing. To be eligible to apply as Advancing, an applicant must demonstrate a sustained practice and have received statewide or national recognition.
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Application Opens: December 15, 2026
Submission deadline: January 25, 2027
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We know that the process of writing a grant application can be daunting. That's why we have compiled resources, including SEMAC grant writing tools and links to other grant writing support from reputable external organizations. | | Health Insurance Considerations for Minnesota Artists |
| SEMAC is excited to partner again with Springboard for the Arts and Health Access MN to offer this essential workshop designed specifically for working artists and culture bearers in our state. | MNsure-Certified Navigator Jeff Jurewicz from Health Access MN will guide Minnesota-based creatives through the basics of securing health insurance, including how to compare plans, determine eligibility for subsidies, and connect with licensed brokers during open enrollment and beyond. |
| Thursday, November 5, 2026 | 6-8p CT |
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Virtual via Zoom
Free, registration required.
Please note that this session will not be recorded.
However, Springboard can help direct you to other resources on this topic.
Contact Zaraawar "Z" Mistry at 651.789.2282 or email zaraawar@springboardforthearts.org for more information.
Automated Zoom captions will be available.
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| Work of Art Workshops:
Fall 2026 Business Skills
for Artists & Culture Bearers | | |
Springboard for the Arts’ virtual Work of Art: Business Skills for Artists workshop series continues with one final free offering this fall, including an expanded invitation open to individual artists and culture bearers in the regions served by the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council (PLRAC), the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC), and the Southwest Minnesota Arts Council (SMAC).
This session will include time for connection and conversation across southern Minnesota, co-facilitated by a SEMAC staff member.
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Funding
Wednesday, November 18, 2026 | 6-8p CT
| Learn how to think creatively about diversifying your funding streams by exploring different models for generating value, resources, and revenue. | | Springboard’s Work of Art: Business Skills for Artists series is a professional development curriculum designed to teach business skills to artists and culture bearers in all disciplines, including, but not limited to, visual, performing, and literary arts. It starts with career planning and moves through topics like pricing, marketing, funding, and business plans. Work of Art can be helpful if you are just starting your creative career or if you need a refresher as you advance your work. | | Springboard’s Work of Art: Business Skills for Artists curriculum is available as a free workbook and downloadable from their website as a helpful reference during or after the workshops. | | |
Virtual via Zoom
Free, registration is required.
Please note that these sessions will not be recorded.
Automated Zoom captions will be available.
| | Springboard is committed to improving access to our programs and services for all persons. If you have questions or need assistance with completing the registration form, call Zaraawar "Z" Mistry at 651.789.2282 or email zaraawar@springboardforthearts.org. | | Skill-Building Workshop Series for Organizational Leaders | | |
SEMAC is excited to continue our partnership with Propel Nonprofits to offer a series of virtual workshops that will provide organizations with the tools they need to succeed.
Join other staff, board members, and volunteers from arts organizations in SEMAC's 11-county region, including the Prairie Island Indian Community, for these professional development opportunities.
Each workshop will be followed by a 30-minute session for networking and sharing, facilitated by SEMAC's Executive Director, Anastasia Shartin.
| | Through this partnership, these workshops which are normally $80-90 each are available to organizational leaders throughout the SEMAC region for free! | |
Project Budgeting
Tuesday, December 8, 2026 | 12 noon-2p CT
| Budgets are more than just numbers; they are powerful tools for planning, decision making, and storytelling. In this training, we’ll explore how to use project budgeting not only to manage resources effectively but also to communicate your organization’s values, priorities, and aspirations. | |
Board Engagement
Tuesday, April 20, 2027 | 12 noon-2p CT
| In this workshop, attendees will explore four practices for healthy board governance. Propel will also provide tips to increase engagement of board members, including an overview of facilitation strategies you can use during your board meetings. | |
Access as Creativity:
Redesigning Our Work with
Disabled Artists & Audiences
| Tuesday, February 23, 2027 |
12 noon-1:30p CT | We have added an additional session to this series, a panel discussion facilitated by Scott Artley of Scott Artley Consulting. During this panel, join other arts leaders from the SEMAC region for a discussion about what disability, accommodation, and access teach us about community care as artistic innovation. | This session is best enjoyed live with the interactive elements, but it will be recorded and available for a limited time. | | |
Virtual via Zoom
Free, registration is required.
Please note that Propel Nonprofit sessions will not be recorded.
Automated Zoom captions will be available.
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SEMAC In-Person Workshop Opportunity this December! | Funding, Connections, and Resources
for Individual Artists & Culture Bearers | Sharon Mansur leading attendees during an in-person grant workshop in Caledonia, MN, June 2026.
Photo by Jacqueline VanRavenhorst. | All creatives in our region are invited to join SEMAC staff at our upcoming free in-person grant workshop for individual artists and culture bearers at Little Theatre of Owatonna (LTO), a nonprofit organization in Steele County whose mission is to “spark creativity and build community through enriching theatre experiences on and off the stage.” We will share an overview of our grant programs and professional development opportunities, discuss the process of applying for a Project Support for Individual Artists & Culture Bearers Grant (the next deadline is Monday, January 25, 2027), and share helpful tips and resources. Light refreshments will be provided, as well as time for conversation and connection. |
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Wednesday, December 9, 2026 | 6-8p
Little Theatre of Owatonna | Owatonna, MN
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Free, pre-registration is encouraged.
This workshop is in-person only and will not be recorded.
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Additional Workshop Assistance | Additional accessibility accommodations are available upon request via each workshop's registration form, or contact Sharon Mansur, Outreach & Accessibility Manager, at sharon@semac.org, 507.322.1088, 711 TTY. |
| Explore SEMAC's Expanded Resource Lists! | | |
Head over to SEMAC’s website and check out our growing collection of resource lists for artists, culture bearers, and organizations in our region. Facilitated by Sharon Mansur, Outreach and Accessibility Manager, these lists cover a range of topics to support the arts continuing to thrive in southeastern Minnesota. Follow the links below to learn more, and stay tuned for more in the coming months! |
| SEMAC-Funded Public Events | | November's arts and cultural events are made possible with the generous support of Minnesota taxpayers through the Legacy Amendment's Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund. | | The Unveiling of the Mural on Indigenous Peoples day 2023. Honoring Dakota Project and Red Wing Arts, Red Wing, MN. Photo courtesy of the Honoring Dakota Project. | |
He Mni Can Round Dance
Saturday, November 14 | 4-7p
Red Wing High School
Red Wing, MN
Honoring Dakota Project in partnership with Red Wing Public School District, Red Wing Arts, and Prairie Island Indian Community are proud to announce the first He Mni Can Round Dance. The Indigenous Youth Round Dance uplifts arts and cultural heritage by offering an immersive cultural arts experience rooted in Dakota traditions. Guided by culture bearers, youth learn songs, dances, and event leadership while sharing them with peers and the broader community. Free and open to the public, this event increases access to Indigenous arts, celebrates heritage, and fosters unity, understanding, and collective healing.
| | Members of the Lake Song Chorus, Albert Lea, MN. Photo courtesy of the Lake Song Chorus. | |
Lake Song Chorus Fall Concert: Old Time American Harmonies
Saturday, November 14 | 1p
Skyline Mall Plaza
Albert Lea, MN
The Lake Song Chorus provides a choral experience for people living with dementia, their care providers, and community volunteers. This concert is the culmination of 10 weeks of rehearsal and celebrates the power of familiar music, singing with friends, and building a safe environment where all are valued. Free admission, but bring a folding chair if you want to ensure a seat! The concert will feature familiar tunes from the 60s and 70s and heartwarming stories from members about the joys of singing in this caring community.
| | The Impacts of the Arts in Southeastern Minnesota | Sarah Johnson and The Joy Labs: Healthy Spirit, Mind, and Body for All | | A photo of Sarah Johnson, wearing a colorful dress, glasses, and blue hair, about to ring a mindfulness chime while standing in front of a brick wall displaying three large colorful panels from her Fabric of Winona: Community-Engaged Mural Project. Winona County Historical Society, Winona, MN. Photo by Mary Farrell | | |
“The easiest way, I think, to describe my work these days is a culmination of my passions, training, experience, and ever-evolving...I have always seen art, used art, benefited from art as a form of expression, a form of fun and play, curiosity,...healing and recovery. Making sense of things, period. I weave creativity into everything I do.” ~Sarah Johnson, The Joy Labs
Sarah Johnson is a community engaged artist, licensed mental health professional, and human with many years of experience in prevention, health promotion, art, and community-building. She is based in Winona, Minnesota, on Dakota homelands, and is engaged locally, regionally, and nationally. In 2021 Sarah founded The Joy Labs, and works to build healthy, connected communities where we all have what we need to be able to effectively care for ourselves and each other. Sarah has been a SEMAC grantee as an individual artist, as well as a community partner for organizational grants. And throughout 2026 she also has been the facilitator of a series of Community Care for Creatives (CC4C) sessions, hosted by 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, Wabasha, and Winona Counties.
If you or someone you know is interested in applying for these service opportunities, please follow the links below for more information or contact Anastasia Shartin, Executive Director, at anastasia@semac.org.
| | 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. | | | | |
