The Southwest Minnesota Arts Council (SMAC) has awarded $33,532 in grant funding to seven organizations, five schools and one individual artist.
The SMAC board approved the grants October 24, including $14,131 for organizations through its Quick Support for Organizations program, $15,425 through its Arts in the Schools program and $3,976 through its Artist Equity program.
Among the local recipients, the City of Jeffers and City of Olivia each received $2,500 to support planning and design work for murals by artist Lili Lennox.
Lynd Public School was awarded $4,000 for a four-day music and art residency with Dennis Warner for students in prekindergarten through eighth grade. The January 2027 residency will also include a community concert.
Other school grants include $1,600 for KMS Public Schools to take high school art students to the Minneapolis Institute of Art, $4,000 for the Minnesota Valley Area Learning Center in Montevideo for a Twin Cities arts field trip, $2,625 for a musical theater workshop at Murray County Central and $3,200 for a jazz festival at Willmar Senior High School.
Additional organization grants will support arts workshops, songwriting programs, adult art classes and a chamber music concert in communities across southwest Minnesota.
Madison artist Sean Frandsen received $3,976 through the Artist Equity program to purchase acoustic and electronic drum equipment for his home rehearsal and recording studio.
SMAC says all grants are reviewed by grant panelists before receiving final approval from the board.
More information about grant opportunities is available at swmnarts.org.
