The Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council is calling for grant proposals for projects that will take place from Dec. 1, 2013 to Nov. 30, 2014.

The grant proposals must fit within the category of arts and cultural heritage, presenter/production assistance, or small town/rural.

Proposals for grants from the arts and cultural heritage fund must range from $3,000 to $10,000, and a match of 20 percent is required.

The arts and cultural heritage fund will support arts-focused activities in the areas of arts and arts access, arts education, and arts and cultural heritage.  SEMAC encourages applicants to research and develop proposals that incorporate two or more of the key areas with an emphasis on creating lasting partnerships among regional nonprofit arts organizations and other nonprofit groups. Non-profits that do not have arts as their primary focus, such as schools, senior centers, community education, cultural groups and colleges are also invited to apply.

Future funding of arts and cultural heritage grants will depend on the appropriate usage of current funding.  SEMAC urges arts organizations and non-arts organizations with an arts component and government entities to apply.  First-time applicants must attend one of the three proposal drafting session that will be held. To learn more or to sign up, email staff@semac.org or call the SEMAC office at 507-281-4848.

Presenter/production grants offer funding up to $3,000 to qualified applicants, and matching funds are required.

Presenter assistance grants are intended to help regional arts organizations and educational institutions to 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 directly involved in the creation, performance, publication and exhibition of art.  The two distinct subcategories within production assistance grants are arts production projects and administrative support projects.

The small towns/rural areas grants offer funding up to $3,000 to qualified applicants located in areas with populations under 7,500, and matching funds are required.

This support may be used for assistance in activities which directly involve the creation, performance, publication or exhibition of art, or it can be used for assistance with administrative, operating, or capital expenditures.  Applicants may include arts organizations, government entities and public or non-religious private schools, either individually or in cooperation.  These grants are not for individual artists.

The postmark deadline to submit grant proposals is Oct. 1.