The Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council is helping artists with grant opportunities.

SEMAC announced a call for proposals in two categories: General Operating Support, and Individual Artists. All proposed projects must take place between Oct. 1, 2015, and Sept. 30, 2016, and culminate in a capstone event that is accessible and open to the public.

SEMAC, a non-profit arts agency, is designated by the State of Minnesota Arts Board as the regional arts council for 11 southeastern Minnesota counties: Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona.

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 the website at www.semac.org.

General operating support is designed to strengthen and stabilize arts organizations with operating expenses of less than $160,000 in the previous year.  The accounting period or fiscal year for which funding is requested must not begin before Oct. 1, 2014, and must conclude within one calendar year. Proposals will be accepted from eligible arts organizations in the SEMAC region that have been programming for a minimum of three years. Colleges and universities are not eligible. The maximum amount for this grant is $4,000. No match is required.

To encourage development of entirely original artistic works, SEMAC offers two distinct grants for individual artists: Established artist grants recognize, reward, and encourage outstanding individual artists and provide some financial support to enable them to continue their work. Emerging artist grants offer small but critical support for specific projects by developing artists from all disciplines who are committed to advancing their work and careers.

Proposals will be accepted from individual artists who are full-time residents of the SEMAC region. The maximum amount for established artists is $5,000. The maximum amount for emerging artists is $2,500. No match is required. The individual artist grant program is supported by the McKnight Foundation of Minneapolis.

With the beginning of fiscal year 2016, SEMAC has moved its application forms and process online. Potential applicants for General Operating Support and Individual Artist Grants should visit http://semac.org/grants/application-forms.php to learn more.

SEMAC announces change to artists in education grant

The Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council announced a change in its Artists in Education grant program.

Applications for school residencies are now available online. Money will be set aside for this purpose each school year. Applications in this category will be noncompetitive, have no deadline, and must be submitted at least 60 days before the planned artist residencies.

Artist residencies are interactive arts activities providing K-12 students and teachers with direct arts experiences with artists. Residencies help the professional development of artists by providing employment experience and audience contact.

Proposals will be accepted from public or non-religious private schools in the SEMAC region for residencies of 1-5 full school days based upon well-defined arts projects. The maximum amount for this grant is $3,000. All proposed projects must take place during the 2015-2016 school year and culminate in a capstone event that is accessible and open to the public.

SEMAC, a non-profit arts agency, is designated by the State of Minnesota Arts Board as the regional arts council for 11 southeastern Minnesota counties:  Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona.

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 website at www.semac.org.