SEMAC Seeks Community Members to Serve on Its Board of Directors
The Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC) is seeking artists and culture bearers, arts administrators, and arts supporters from Fillmore, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona counties to join our Board of Directors this spring. This is an exciting time to be part of SEMAC’s leadership as we review our mission, vision, and values to prepare for our 50th anniversary in late 2027.
SEMAC is one of eleven Regional Arts Councils designated by the State of Minnesota to make final decisions on the use of allocations from the state’s general fund and from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund to support local and regional arts development. We have served Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona counties since 1977. SEMAC supports arts and cultural programming in every corner of our region by awarding close to $1,000,000 per year in grants to individuals, arts organizations, non-arts nonprofits, schools, and local government entities. Our programs also include professional development opportunities, shared resources, and other support to help the arts thrive in our region.
The SEMAC Board is primarily responsible for setting policy, overseeing administration, and approving grants. Board meetings are held virtually every other month and there is an annual in-person retreat that typically takes place in June or July. Each director is eligible to receive a $100 stipend for each meeting they attend. A director may serve up to two three-year terms.
Each director is expected to represent their county by:
-
Keeping informed of arts and cultural activities and needs in their county and providing this information to the Board as needed
-
Being a conduit for information between SEMAC and their county
-
Attending local arts events as a representative of SEMAC
-
Increasing the visibility of SEMAC as a resource for artists, culture bearers, and nonprofit organizations in their communities
-
Serving on at least one board committee and/or reviewing applications for specific grant programs
-
Participating in periodic board trainings and the annual retreat
-
Joining arts advocacy efforts in the region and in partnership with Minnesota Citizens for the Arts
-
Working with staff and other board members as partners to achieve SEMAC’s mission and goals
For more information about how to apply or to nominate someone, please contact Anastasia Shartin, executive director, at anastasia@semac.org. Potential candidates may also complete a SEMAC Service Opportunities application on the grant interface, which can be accessed from our website at Board of Directors – Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council.
SEMAC activities are 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.
