The Board of Directors of the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC) awarded 42 grants for a total of $269,205 in funding on Tuesday to applicants throughout southeastern Minnesota. This included 24 Arts and Cultural Heritage grants for $217,935, nine Presenter/Production Assistance grants for $25,520, and nine Small Towns/Rural Areas grants for $25,750.

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.

Two Austin-based organizations, the Austin Symphony Orchestra and Riverland Community College, were each awarded a $10,000 Arts and Cultural Heritage grant.

The Austin Symphony Orchestra received the grant for Season 63 – Symphonic Magic, while Riverland received the grant for “Our Austin, Our America: Celebrating Diversity.”

Organizations in Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Olmsted, Rice, Wabasha and Winona Counties were also awarded SEMAC grants.

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.