On Aug. 21, the board of directors of the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council Inc. SEMAC awarded 28 grants for a total of $110,025 in funding to applicants throughout southeastern Minnesota. This included 16 McKnight Individual Artist Grants for $74.585, seven General Operating Support Grants to arts organizations for $25,440, and five Artists in Education Grants for $10,000.

SEMAC is the State Arts Board-designated granting authority for local and 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.

The following grants were awarded to Steele County:

• Michael Grenier received a $5,000 McKnight Established Artist grant for Natura.

• Wilson Elementary School received a $2,000 Artists in Education grant for Six Arts of the Maya.

For information about the grant application process, eligibility, or grant writing assistance, contact the SEMAC office at 2778 D Commerce Drive NW, Rochester, MN 55901 or call 507-281-4848. Information may also be found at www.semac.org