The Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council announces a call for grant proposals in three categories. The postmark deadline is July 2.

SEMAC is a nonprofit arts agency and is the State of Minnesota Arts Board-designated regional arts council for the counties of Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona.

 

Artists in Education Grants

The Artists in Education category is intended to support artist residencies within the 11-county SEMAC region. A residency is an interactive arts activity involving students, teachers and artists. Residencies serve as a resource for teachers working to integrate the arts into the curriculum. They provide young people with a direct arts experience with artists. Residencies also encourage professional development of artists by providing a unique employment experience and audience contact. Residencies must be at least one full day up to five full school days, in length, and be based upon a well-defined project. Residencies must culminate in a capstone event that is accessible to the public.

Applications will be accepted from public or non-religious private school within the SEMAC region. Grants in this category have an upper limit of $2,000 and do not require matching funds. All proposed residencies must take place between Sept. 1 and Aug. 31, 2013.

 

General Operating Support Grants

General operating support is designed to strengthen and stabilize arts organizations with operating expenses of less than $150,000 in the previous year. The fiscal year, or accounting period for which funding is requested, must not begin before Sept. 1 and must conclude within one calendar year. In lieu of the single capstone event required for other grant categories, applications should include a schedule of all events planned during the covered time period.

Proposals for organizational development will be accepted from eligible arts organizations that have been programming for a minimum of three years. Colleges and universities are ineligible. The maximum amount for this grant is $4,000. No match is required.

 

McKnight Individual Artist Grants

Proposals will be accepted from individual artists to encourage the development of entirely original work in two distinct subcategories: the established artist grant and the emerging artist grant. No matching funds are required.

An established artist grant is designed to recognize, reward and encourage outstanding individual artists and provide some financial support to enable them to continue their work. The maximum amount for this subcategory is $5,000.

An emerging artist grant offers small but critical support for specific projects by developing artists from all disciplines who are committed to advancing their work and careers. The maximum amount for this subcategory is $2,500.

For both subcategories, the work must be part of a public showcasing and take place between Sept. 1 and Aug. 31, 2013. Artists must be full-time residents of the SEMAC region. This program is underwritten by the generous support of the McKnight Foundation.

For information about the grant application process, eligibility or grant writing assistance, contact the SEMAC office at 2778 D Commerce Dr NW, Rochester, MN 55901 or call 507-281-4848. Information may also be found on our Web site at www.semac.org.