SEMAC: School Residency Grant

SEMAC: School Residency Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council, Inc.
Amount: Up to US $3,000
Last Updated: November 05, 2025

Summary

The SEMAC: School Residency Grant supports artist residencies in K-12 public or non-religious private schools, providing students with direct arts experiences. This grant enhances artists' professional development through unique employment opportunities. Residencies last from one to five full school days and culminate in a public capstone event. Applications are due thirty days prior to the residency, and no matching funds are required, making this an accessible opportunity for artists in the southeastern Minnesota region.

Overview

NOTE: The submission deadline is thirty days prior to the planned artist residency. The Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council, Inc. (SEMAC) is one of eleven Regional Arts Councils designated by the State of Minnesota to make final decisions on the use of appropriations for local/regional arts development. SEMAC has served Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona counties since 1977 and is charged with assessing regional needs and planning and administering programs and services using its legislative allocation. Mission SEMAC exists to encourage, promote, and assist regional arts development by providing leadership, outreach, advocacy, mentorship, grants, and services. Vision All community members are inspired to take part in the arts and build partnerships that promote the arts and artists. New culturally rich artistic opportunities are incorporated into our communities while preserving our existing artistic heritages. Community members, leaders, and policy-makers foster a climate that celebrates imagination, creativity, innovation, and excellence that encourages life-long participation in the arts. Core Values SEMAC seeks out and rewards creative efforts of high artistic integrity that stand out among similar efforts.SEMAC believes that high quality art should be challenging and original, able to illuminate the human condition and serve the vital interests of the community.Rooted in basic human values, SEMAC believes that art should move the imagination and the heart, and enrich rather than merely entertain.SEMAC believes that art should be artistically challenging for both the artists and the audience, and should significantly contribute to the development and enrichment of a given art form(s).SEMAC funded artists must demonstrate serious training with reputable teachers or mentors, a commitment to their art form and life as an artist, and present art of lasting value. SEMAC: School Residency Grants The School Residency grant is intended to support artist residencies in public or non-religious private schools. A residency is an interactive arts activity involving K-12 students, teachers, and artists. Residencies provide young people with a direct arts experience with artists, as well as encourage the artist’s professional development by providing a unique employment experience and audience contact. Residencies must be based upon a well-defined project and at least one full day or up to five full school days in length, and culminate in a capstone event that is accessible and open to the public. No matching funds are required for School Residency grants.The deadline for receipt of applications is thirty days prior to the planned artist residency.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Grant is intended to support artist residencies in K-12 schools.Recipients of School Residency grants are eligible to reapply annually.Individuals and groups seeking to apply for SEMAC funding are strictly held to the following qualifications.The applicant is located in the 11-county SEMAC Region of southeastern Minnesota: Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona Counties. The primary focus of the proposal is the fine arts, i.e., the development, education, performance and/or showcasing of the arts. The proposed project includes a public component or Capstone Event to benefit the citizens of southeastern Minnesota. The project may not begin until at least sixty days after the grant deadline. The project must be completed within twelve months. Demonstrates the high quality of the arts products, services, or activities they provide as well as their impact on the community. Has a Board of Directors that meets on a regular basis. A recognized nonprofit, with Articles of Incorporation on file with the State of Minnesota. Public schools and local government entities also qualify. Is federal tax exempt, with 501(c)(3) or comparable status under the Internal Revenue Code. For programming grants, organizations in the process of achieving tax-exempt status may use a Fiscal Sponsor within Minnesota that is both tax-exempt and a nonprofit organization who has agreed to receive and disburse SEMAC funds.The Residency must supplement rather than supplant the school’s prescribed curriculum.

Ineligibility

Matching funds are never required for School Residency grants.Programs designed to meet K-12 Minnesota Academic Standards in the Arts are not eligible.