On May 12 the board of directors of the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council awarded 35 grants for a total of $227,945 in funding to applicants throughout southeastern Minnesota. This included 22 arts and cultural heritage grants for $197,325, six presenter/production assistance grants totaling $16,515 and seven small towns/rural areas grants in the amount of $14,505.

SEMAC is the state arts board-designated granting authority for local/regional arts producing and sponsoring organizations and disburses funds allocated for this purpose by the Minnesota State Legislature. The SEMAC region includes the counties of Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha and Winona.

Albert Lea Community Theatre benefitted from receiving one of the grants. It received a $3,000 presenter/production assistance grant for “Calendar Girls” by Tim Firth.