The Board of Directors of the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC) awarded 65 grants for a total of $342,170 in funding to applicants throughout southeastern Minnesota on Tuesday.

Included were 24 Arts and Cultural Heritage grants for $216,105, 13 Presenter/Production Assistance grants for $36,280, six Small Towns/Rural Areas grants for $17,765, seven School Residency grants for $21,000, and 13 General Operating Support grants to arts organizations for $50,500.

SEMAC is the State Arts Board-designated granting authority for local/regional arts producing and sponsoring organizations and disburses funds allocated for this purpose by the Minnesota State Legislature. The SEMAC region includes the counties of Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona.

Mower County recipients were:

• Austin Area Commission for the Arts – $5,500 Arts and Cultural Heritage grant for Kids Visual Arts Education 2019
• Austin Community Band – $3,000 Presenter/Production Assistance grant for Summer Concerts in the Park
• Austin Symphony Orchestra – $3,000 Presenter/Production Assistance grant for Celebrate Tony Ross
• Matchbox Children’s Theatre – $3,000 Presenter/Production Assistance grant for February play “Snow White The Queen’s Fair Daughter,”and a $4,000 General Operating Support grant for Facilities and Maintenance
• Summerset Community Theatre – $10,000 Arts and Cultural Heritage grant for Season 52

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

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 at www.semac.org.