Arts grants available through SEMAC

The Southeastern
Minnesota Arts Council announces a call for pro- posals in three categories: Arts & Cultural Heritage, Presenter/Production As- sistance, and Small Towns/ Rural Areas.
All proposed projects must begin no earlier than Dec. 1, and be completed within 12 months, culmi- nating in a capstone event that is accessible and open to the public. Online appli- cations will be available throughout September. The LOI stage of the application must be completed by Sept.
24, with an Oct. 1 submis- sion deadline.
SEMAC, a non-profit arts agency, is designated by the State of Minnesota Arts Board as the regional arts council for 11 south- eastern Minnesota coun- ties: Steele, Dodge, Free- born, Mower, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Wabasha, and Winona.
For information about the grant application process, eligibility, or grant writing assistance, con-
tact 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. With limited fund- ing available each fiscal year, every SEMAC grant
category is competitive and includes an LOI stage used as an initial screening for eligibility.
ARTS  & CULTURAL HERITAGE FUND GRANTS
Proposals for Arts & Cultural Heritage grants ranging from $3,000 to
$10,000 are accepted from qualified applicants located in the SEMAC Region. A match of 20% is required in this category.
The Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund will support arts focused activities in three key areas: 1) Arts
and Arts Access, 2) Arts Education, and 3) Arts and Cultural Heritage. SEMAC encourages applicants to re- search and develop propos- als that incorporate two or more of the key areas with an emphasis on creating lasting partnerships among regional nonprofit arts orga- nizations and other non- profit groups. In addition to eligible arts organizations, nonprofits that do not have arts as a primary focus,
such as schools, senior cen-
ters, community education,
cultural groups and colleges are invited to apply.
Future funding of Arts and Cultural Heritage Grants depends on ap- propriate use of current funding. SEMAC urges arts organizations, non- arts organizations with an arts component, and gov- ernment entities to apply. Due to the larger awards available, this is a highly competitive category.
PRESENTER/PRODUCTION ASSISTANCE GRANTS
Proposals for Presenter/ Production grants offer funding up to $3,000 to qualified applicants located in the SEMAC Region. Matching funds are re- quired.
Presenter Assistance grants are intended to help regional arts orga- nizations and education- al institutions sponsor appearances by touring artists or companies who have demonstrated high levels of artistic quality. These grants are not for
local productions or artist residencies in schools.
Production Assistance grants support activities by arts organizations directly
involved in the creation,
performance, publication, and exhibition of art. The two distinct subcategories within Production Assis- tance grants are: 1) Arts Production Projects, and
2) Administrative Support
Projects.
SMALL TOWNS/RURAL AREAS GRANTS
The Small Towns/Rural Areas grants offer funding up to $3,000 to qualified applicants located in areas of the SEMAC Region
with populations under
7,500. Matching funds are required.
SEMAC wishes to support and encourage the creation and development of art and arts organiza- tions in communities with populations under 7,500. This support may be used for assistance in activities, which directly involve the creation, performance, publication, or exhibition of art. Applicants may
include arts organizations, government entities and public or non-religious private schools, either individually or in coopera-
tion. These grants cannot
be used to cover the costs
 

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of school residencies.