Opportunity Overview
The Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council’s Artists and Culture Bearers in the Schools program funds in-school residencies in which K–12 students work directly with practicing artists and traditional culture bearers. Eligible disciplines include visual arts, music, dance, theater, photography, storytelling, literature, textiles and other art forms. This is direct applicant financial assistance, not procurement.
Funding and Deadline
SEMAC publishes an individual grant range of $2,000–$4,000. The second fall 2026 application cutoff is November 30, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. according to the grant-program page and SEMAC’s general application instructions; submissions are considered only while funding remains. A time zone is not expressly stated in the general instructions. The earlier September 30, 2026 deadline has passed. For the November application round, the earliest published activity start date is February 28, 2027. SEMAC’s public guidance does not state a universal matching percentage or reimbursement requirement for this program.
Who May Apply
The lead applicant can be either an eligible individual artist/culture bearer who lives in SEMAC’s 11-county region, including Prairie Island Indian Community, or an eligible non-religious K–12 school within the same region. The other party must provide written acknowledgement of its role and commitment. The SEMAC counties are Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona counties in southeastern Minnesota, including Prairie Island Indian Community. Individual lead artists must meet minimum age, U.S. citizenship/permanent residency, six-month local residency and applicable reporting eligibility rules; schools must have a defined mission and no overdue SEMAC reports.
Allowed Uses and Exclusions
Residency activities must supplement existing school arts offerings, rather than substitute for mandated curriculum or state academic standards. School-side grant budgets may not fund equipment such as instruments or kilns, student field-trip transportation, or projects satisfying required academic arts standards. Non-expendable equipment purchases for residencies, out-of-state travel and activities, costs incurred before the authorized start date, grant-writing expenses, prohibited political or sectarian purposes and unrelated expenditures are not allowed. No public event is required, but the school must promote the residency through district, board or family communications or local press.
Application and Reporting
Use SEMAC’s online Grant Lifecycle Manager application portal. Provide the partner’s written acknowledgement, an arts residency plan, artist/school qualifications, activity objectives, student involvement, itemized project budget, applicable assurances and reporting commitments. Review the latest program-specific form in the portal and SEMAC general application instructions. Confirm successful submission by automatic email before November 30. Awardees must use the funder’s credit line and Legacy logo, maintain accessibility and submit a final report within 30 days after project completion.
Official Sources
SEMAC current grant programs and 2026–2027 round details; SEMAC eligibility and restrictions; SEMAC geographic coverage. Verified October 27, 2026.