The Austin Area Commission for the Arts and the local Northwestern Singers are among the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council’s most recent grant recipients.

Last Tuesday, the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC) awarded 20 grants in the new Arts & Cultural Heritage Grant category for a total of $159,876 in arts funding in southeastern Minnesota.

The Northwestern Singers were awarded $4,000 towards their annual spring concert.

The singing group of about 40 people — ranging from their early 20s to late 70s — are a nonprofit group devoted to offering performances and raising money to support local youth music programs. Members come from the Austin, Albert Lea and Rochester areas.

Also last week, SEMAC awarded six Presenter/Production Assistance Grants and four Small Towns/Rural Areas Grants, for a total of $24,715.

The Austin Area Commission for the Arts was awarded $2,100 to present a concert by Minnesota-based musician Bill McLaughlin.

He played at the Paramount Theatre Friday.

Funding for SEMAC grants is made possible by the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature. The SEMAC region includes the counties of Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona.