SEMAC exists to encourage, promote, and assist regional arts development by providing leadership, outreach, advocacy, mentorship, grants, and services.
Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council Inc. repeatedly backs the operating life of regional arts groups, pairing general operating support with programming grants across theaters, festivals, choruses, museums, and community arts organizations. Recent awards include $25,000 to Frozen River Film Festival in Winona for general operating support and programming, and $25,000 to Med City Arts Festival in Rochester for the same broad mix of support. The foundation also appears in multi-year relationships with organizations such as Rochester Male Chorus, Rochester Repertory Theatre Company, Sing Out Loud, and Midwest Music Fest, each receiving support in more than one grant year. That pattern points to a funder that works through recurring local arts infrastructure rather than isolated project-only awards. Beyond established organizations, its grant categories also extend to individual artists, small-town arts activity, and arts and cultural heritage projects across the SEMAC region. The grant list shows awards tied to creation, performance, publication, exhibition, and arts education, with support reaching both presenting organizations and community-based arts groups. SEMAC’s role is not limited to one art form; the recent record includes film, music, theater, visual arts, and cultural heritage programming.
A major thread in the portfolio is organizational sustainability. Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council Inc. gave $20,000 to Rochester Repertory Theatre Company for general operating support and programming, and $20,000 to Mantorville Theatre Company for the same mix of support. Another thread is arts presentation and performance: the foundation awarded $20,000 to Gallery 24 Artists Collaborative for programming, and $20,000 to Theatre Du Mississippi for general operating support and programming. Cultural heritage also appears through grants such as $20,000 to the City of Austin Culture & Arts Commission for programming. The catalog of active grant programs shows additional support for arts management training, small-town and rural arts activity, opportunity grants, and grants to individual artists, indicating a broad set of tools for organizations, presenters, and artists serving southeastern Minnesota.
$758K
$517K
$1.5M
$1.5M
Most grants fall between $10K and $15K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$15K
KJELLGREN ALKIRE
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Typical grant size clusters at $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $15,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also shows repeated awards to the same organizations over multiple years, including Rochester Male Chorus, Rochester Repertory Theatre Company, Sing Out Loud, Midwest Music Fest, and Mantorville Art Guild. That points to recurring support rather than one-time-only relationships. SEMAC is an operating arts council, not a donor advised fund or private family foundation, and it also does not fund individuals directly outside its arts grant programs. Several active programs accept unsolicited applications, including general operating support, grants to individual artists, organizational grants, and legacy grants.
Grantmaking is entirely local and entirely in Minnesota: 100% of grants in the recipient country distribution go to U.S. grantees, and 100% of grants go to recipients in Minnesota. Rochester appears frequently, with awards to Med City Arts Festival, Rochester Male Chorus, Sing Out Loud, Rochester Repertory Theatre Company, and Rochester Civic Theatre Company. Winona is another regular recipient city, alongside Rushford, Austin, Caledonia, Mantorville, Northfield, and Houston. The county-based legacy program also reaches communities across the SEMAC region, including listings tied to Winona County, Rice County, and Dodge County.
Its programs cover general operating support, programming and production, arts management training, opportunity grants, grants to individual artists, and arts and cultural heritage projects. Recent awards show support for theaters, film festivals, choruses, symphonies, and arts commissions.
Yes. The recent grant list includes repeated awards to Rochester Male Chorus, Rochester Repertory Theatre Company, Sing Out Loud, Midwest Music Fest, and Mantorville Art Guild across different grant years, which shows ongoing relationships with some recipients.
The distribution centers on $10,000 awards: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $15,000. Recent grants also include larger awards such as $20,000 and $25,000 for operating and programming support.
Yes. Several active grant programs accept unsolicited applications, including General Operating Support, Organizational Grants, Grants to Individual Artists, Arts & Cultural Heritage (Legacy) Grants, Programming Grants, and Opportunity Grants.
It gives locally in Southeastern Minnesota, and the recipient data shows 100% of grants going to Minnesota organizations and arts groups. Recent recipients include organizations in Rochester, Winona, Austin, Rushford, Caledonia, Mantorville, Northfield, and Houston.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Financiamiento actual y próximo de Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council al que tu organización sin fines de lucro podría postularse.
¿Quién puede postularse? Nonprofit arts organizations located in the SEMAC region with current 501(c)(3) status, or organizations using a Minnesota fiscal sponsor with current 501(c)(3) status. Recipients may reapply every other year.
Fecha límite: November 18, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
¿Quién puede postularse? The lead applicant may be an individual artist or culture bearer living in the SEMAC region or the non-religious K-12 school where the residency will occur. Written acknowledgment from the partner applicant is required. Activities must supplement, not replace, the school’s arts curriculum; non-expendable equipment is not eligible. Schools must share the residency through district communications, with the school board, or with local press.
Fecha límite: November 30, 2026; applications accepted until funds run out
¿Quién puede postularse? Eligible applicants include regional nonprofit arts organizations, equity organizations, nonprofit organizations whose mission is not the arts, non-religious K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and local government or tribal entities. Projects should address one or more of the three Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund areas.
Fecha límite: September 30 and March 30 each fiscal year.
¿Quién puede postularse? Available to regional nonprofit arts groups. Funds are not always available and applicants should check with SEMAC.
Fecha límite: Thirty days prior to the training start date; subject to funding availability
¿Quién puede postularse? Lead applicant may be an individual artist or culture bearer living in the SEMAC Region, or a nonprofit organization in the rural community where the project will take place. Project must include collaboration with a local community partner, active community engagement, and an accessible public event. Offered every two years.
Fecha límite: March 30 (offered every two years)
¿Quién puede postularse? The lead applicant may be an individual artist or culture bearer living in the SEMAC region, or a nonprofit organization in the rural community where the project takes place. Projects must collaborate with a local community partner such as a nonprofit, library, government department or agency, tribal entity, or civic group; include active community engagement; and include at least one accessible public event.
Fecha límite: March 30, 2027; offered every two years.
¿Quién puede postularse? Lead applicants may be nonprofit arts or non-arts organizations, local governments, tribal entities, community education programs, or libraries based in the rural community where the project takes place, or artists and culture bearers residing in SEMAC’s 11-county region. The community must have a population under 7,500. Projects must involve multiple opportunities for direct community involvement and may address welcoming spaces, environmental stewardship, cultural divides, intergenerational experiences, or local issues.
Fecha límite: March 30, 2027; offered every two years
¿Quién puede postularse? Eligible applicants include non-arts nonprofits, non-religious K-12 schools, local government entities, tribal entities, colleges, and universities in the SEMAC region. Applicants may receive one grant per year. An accessible public event is required.
Fecha límite: September 30, 2026 and March 30, 2027.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOUTHEAST MN BLUEGRASS ASSOCIATION | RUSHFORD, MN | $25,000 | 2026 | ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| FROZEN RIVER FILM FESTIVAL | WINONA, MN | $25,000 | 2026 | ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT GRANT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| MANTORVILLE THEATRE COMPANY | MANTORVILLE, MN | $24,890 | 2026 | ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT GRANT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| ROCHESTER REPERTORY THEATRE COMPANY | ROCHESTER, MN | $23,565 | 2026 | ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| THEATRE DU MISSISSIPPI | WINONA, MN | $20,000 | 2026 | ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| MAINSPRING | CALEDONIA, MN | $20,000 | 2026 | ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| GALLERY 24 ARTISTS COLLABORATIVE | ROCHESTER, MN | $20,000 | 2026 | ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| AUSTIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | AUSTIN, MN | $20,000 | 2026 | ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| MIDWEST MUSIC FEST | WINONA, MN | $20,000 | 2026 | ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| MED CITY ARTS FESTIVAL | ROCHESTER, MN | $20,000 | 2026 | ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| SING OUT LOUD | ROCHESTER, MN | $20,000 | 2026 | ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| WIDESPOT PERFORMING ARTS CENTER | WABASHA, MN | $20,000 | 2026 | ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| BRIDGE CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL | NORTHFIELD, MN | $17,275 | 2026 | ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| ROCHESTER COMMUNITY BAND | ROCHESTER, MN | $15,000 | 2026 | ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| ROCHESTER MALE CHORUS | ROCHESTER, MN | $15,000 | 2026 | ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| ROCHESTER POPS ORCHESTRA | ROCHESTER, MN | $15,000 | 2026 | ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| ROCHESTER CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY | ROCHESTER, MN | $15,000 | 2026 | ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| FREEBORN COUNTY ARTS INITIATIVE | ALBERT LEA, MN | $15,000 | 2026 | ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| CITY OF PETERSON COMMITTEE FOR THE ARTS | PETERSON, MN | $15,000 | 2026 | ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| WINONA ARTS CENTER | WINONA, MN | $13,500 | 2026 | ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| ROCHESTER ARTS CENTER | ROCHESTER, MN | $10,400 | 2026 | ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| ROCHESTER NEW MUSIC ENSEMBLE | ROCHESTER, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| ANDERSON CENTER AT TOWER VIEW | RED WING, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| I CANTANTI CHAMBER CHOIRS | DUNDAS, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ROCHESTER AREA HANDBELLS | ROCHESTER, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AMERIIKAN POIJAT FINNISH BRASS BAND | NORTHFIELD, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SHELDON THEATRE OF PERFORMING ARTS | RED WING, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| ROCHESTER CIVIC THEATRE COMPANY | ROCHESTER, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| PARADISE CENTER FOR THE ARTS | FARIBAULT, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| AUSTIN AREA COMMISSION FOR THE ARTS | AUSTIN, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| NORTHFIELD ARTS GUILD | NORTHFIELD, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| ROCHESTER SYMPHONY | ROCHESTER, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| OWATONNA ARTS CENTER | OWATONNA, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CITY OF RED WING ARTS & CULTURE | RED WING, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| BIG TURN MUSIC FEST | RED WING, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| GREAT RIVER SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL | WINONA, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| ZUMBROTA COMMUNITY BAND | ZUMBROTA, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CITY OF AUSTIN CULTURE & ARTS COMMISSION | AUSTIN, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| RED WING ART ASSOCIATION | RED WING, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| SUMMERSET COMMUNITY THEATRE | AUSTIN, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| MINNESOTA MARINE ART MUSEUM | WINONA, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| WINONA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | WINONA, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| VINTAGE BAND FESTIVAL | NORTHFIELD, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| RIVER ARTS ALLIANCE | WINONA, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SOUTHEASTERN MINNESOTA YOUTH ORCHESTRAS | ROCHESTER, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| BELLS OF THE BLUFFS HANDBELL ENSEMBLE | RED WING, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ALBERT LEA COMMUNITY BAND | ALBERT LEA, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MACPHAIL CENTER FOR MUSIC - AUSTIN | AUSTIN, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT |
| YE OLDE OPERA HOUSE | SPRING GROVE, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ART OF THE RURAL | WINONA, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT |
SOUTHEAST MN BLUEGRASS ASSOCIATION
$25,000ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT
FROZEN RIVER FILM FESTIVAL
$25,000ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT GRANT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT
MANTORVILLE THEATRE COMPANY
$24,890ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT GRANT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT
ROCHESTER REPERTORY THEATRE COMPANY
$23,565ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT
THEATRE DU MISSISSIPPI
$20,000ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT
MAINSPRING
$20,000ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT
GALLERY 24 ARTISTS COLLABORATIVE
$20,000ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT
AUSTIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$20,000ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT
MIDWEST MUSIC FEST
$20,000ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT
MED CITY ARTS FESTIVAL
$20,000ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT
SING OUT LOUD
$20,000ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT
WIDESPOT PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
$20,000ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT
BRIDGE CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
$17,275ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT
ROCHESTER COMMUNITY BAND
$15,000ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT
ROCHESTER MALE CHORUS
$15,000ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT
ROCHESTER POPS ORCHESTRA
$15,000ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT
ROCHESTER CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY
$15,000ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT
FREEBORN COUNTY ARTS INITIATIVE
$15,000ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT
CITY OF PETERSON COMMITTEE FOR THE ARTS
$15,000ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT
WINONA ARTS CENTER
$13,500ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT
ROCHESTER ARTS CENTER
$10,400ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND PROGRAMMING GRANT
ROCHESTER NEW MUSIC ENSEMBLE
$10,000ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT
I CANTANTI CHAMBER CHOIRS
$10,000ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ROCHESTER AREA HANDBELLS
$10,000ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
AMERIIKAN POIJAT FINNISH BRASS BAND
$10,000ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SHELDON THEATRE OF PERFORMING ARTS
$10,000ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT
ROCHESTER CIVIC THEATRE COMPANY
$10,000ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT
PARADISE CENTER FOR THE ARTS
$10,000ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT
AUSTIN AREA COMMISSION FOR THE ARTS
$10,000ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT
NORTHFIELD ARTS GUILD
$10,000ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT
ROCHESTER SYMPHONY
$10,000ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT
OWATONNA ARTS CENTER
$10,000ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CITY OF RED WING ARTS & CULTURE
$10,000ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT
BIG TURN MUSIC FEST
$10,000ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT
GREAT RIVER SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
$10,000ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT
ZUMBROTA COMMUNITY BAND
$10,000ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CITY OF AUSTIN CULTURE & ARTS COMMISSION
$10,000ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT
RED WING ART ASSOCIATION
$10,000ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT
MINNESOTA MARINE ART MUSEUM
$10,000ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT
WINONA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$10,000ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
VINTAGE BAND FESTIVAL
$10,000ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT
RIVER ARTS ALLIANCE
$10,000ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SOUTHEASTERN MINNESOTA YOUTH ORCHESTRAS
$10,000ACHF: PROGRAMMING GRANT
BELLS OF THE BLUFFS HANDBELL ENSEMBLE
$10,000ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ALBERT LEA COMMUNITY BAND
$10,000ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
YE OLDE OPERA HOUSE
$10,000ACHF: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT