Project Support for Individual Artists and Culture Bearers Grant

The Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC) provides project support grants for individual artists and culture bearers in its 11-county region. These grants, ranging from $2,000 to $6,000, aim to foster creativity and public engagement through various artistic disciplines. Eligible applicants must be at least 18 years old, U.S. citizens, and reside in the SEMAC region. The program encourages innovative projects that involve the community, ensuring accessibility and meaningful interaction with the public.

Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council
Through our six grant programs, SEMAC supports arts programming in every corner of our region by awarding close to $1,000,000 per year to individuals, arts organizations, non-arts nonprofits, schools, and local government entities.
SEMAC is one of eleven Regional Arts Councils designated by the State of Minnesota to make final decisions on the use of appropriations from the state’s general fund and from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund | Minnesota’s Legacy to support local and regional arts development.
These project grants are meant to encourage individual artists and culture bearers living in the 11-county SEMAC region to take the next step in their creative pursuits by providing the financial support needed to experiment, take on a challenge, or deepen their practice. Individuals creating new work in all disciplines, including but not limited to, painting, photography, printmaking, textiles, music, dance, theater, performance, storytelling, literary arts, intermedia arts, and traditional arts are encouraged to apply.
There are two categories for these project grants: Emerging and Advancing. To be eligible to apply as Advancing, an applicant must demonstrate that they have received regional or national recognition for their previous work.
The grant proposal must be to support the creation of new work and include an opportunity for public engagement with that work. This public component could be an exhibition, a performance, a reading, or another in-person activity, or it could be a series of events. As long as this component is accessible and meaningfully engages the general public, the applicant can determine the format that best supports their project.
Award amount: $2,000 to $4,000 for Emerging and $3,000 to $6,000 for Advancing

Eligibility

Every individual applicant must meet ALL of the following conditions:
Be at least 18 years of age on the Final Submission Deadline and not currently enrolled in high school.Be a United States citizen or resident alien.Have been a full-time resident of the SEMAC region for at least six months and agree to reside in Minnesota for the duration of the proposed grant activity.No overdue final reports. Final reports that are due before a new grant deadline must be approved before applying in the new round.May not apply as an emerging artist at any time after having received funding as an advancing artist.Recent Grantees must sit out one year before applying again. Unsuccessful applicants may apply again as early as the next deadline.

Ineligibility

Grant proposals may not include any of the following:
Activities that are essentially for the religious socialization of the participants or audienceActivities that attempt to influence any state or federal legislation or appropriationBenefits, fundraisers, donations, and re-granting money (including outside scholarships, endowment funds, and/or prize money)Feasibility studiesCapital improvement, construction, or purchase of real propertyHistoric preservation projectsActivities that violate federal, state, or local laws, ordinances, or policiesProjects related to a class, course, or degree requirementsFees paid to Public Event venues cannot exceed 10% of the funds requested from SEMAC
The following budget items may not be included:
Costs for relocating outside MinnesotaOut of state travel or activitiesExpenses incurred prior to the Start Date (including publicity)Living expenses (however, artist fees are encouraged)Legal fees (except for copyrights or royalties)Alcoholic beveragesGrant writing expensesNon-expendable equipment purchases for residency projects