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The Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council Board of Directors announced the awarding of $345,985 in arts programming grants to nonprofit organizations and schools throughout Southeastern Minnesota. These grants will support diverse arts and cultural programming and strengthen creative communities across the region.

The funding includes:

• 18 Legacy Grants to arts organizations totaling $180,000
• 16 Legacy Grants to non-arts groups totaling $79,710
• 7 Programming Grants to arts organizations totaling $32,100
• 11 Small Towns/Rural Areas Grants totaling $54,175

In Freeborn County, the Friends of the Bohemian Brick Hall received a $5,000 Small Towns/Rural Areas Grant for the 2025 annual Czech Fest.

The Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council is one of 11 regional arts councils serving Minnesota, each functioning as an autonomous grassroots organization designated to assess needs, develop programs and services, and distribute grants to fund arts and cultural programs in their region. Established in September 1977, SEMAC serves Region 10, which includes Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha and Winona counties, including the Prairie Island Indian Community.

Each year SEMAC awards close to $1 million in grants to individuals, arts organizations and non-arts organizations to support arts and cultural programming. The council also provides services, including grant writing support, professional development workshops, networking opportunities, language translation services, resource lists and promotion of arts and cultural events throughout the region.

Grant program details

SEMAC’s grant programs support a wide range of arts and cultural activities throughout southeastern Minnesota. The Legacy Grants, funded through Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, support both arts organizations and non-arts groups in presenting arts programming. Programming Grants provide additional support for specific artistic projects, while Small Towns/Rural Areas Grants ensure that communities of all sizes have access to quality arts programming.