SMAC awards Art Project grants to multiple area organizations

A total of 28 organizations were recently awarded Art Project grants by the Southwest Minnesota Arts Council. These grants provide organizations in the SMAC region with up to $10,000 to stimulate and encourage the creation, performance and appreciation of the arts. 

Among the organizations receiving grants were:

• The Worthington International Festival, $10,000 for its festival in July, which includes immigrant stories with a panel discussion, folk and traditional artist performances, food vendors, artisan booths, ethnic cultural education booths and activities for children.

• The City of Adrian, $8,650 for a mural by artist Lili Lennox as a tribute to the town's heritage and future, to celebrate Adrian's 150th anniversary.

• Murray County Historical Society of Slayton, $4,600 for a series of three summer concerts hosted outside the historic Dinehart Holt House. 

• Prairie Arts Continuum of Windom, $3,000 for bringing in Storybook Theatre to facilitate a children's theater production of "Hansel and Gretel" in August.

• Fort Belmont of Jackson, $1,659 for expanding and enhancing their annual Pioneer Days event in August through the addition of arts-based programming that highlights traditional music.

Among others receiving grants were:

• Pipestone Performing Arts Center, $10,000 for its 2026–2027 Presenter Series.

• Al Opland Singers of Pipestone, $8,625 for two major choral productions during their upcoming season, including "Let it Be Christmas" in December and "Storytelling Through Song" in April 2027.

• AMP (Arts & Mentoring Project) of Pipestone, $9,985 for two summer musical theater camps for youths in July and August.

• The City of Tracy, $5,000 for a permanent public art installation at the Tracy Aquatic Center led by artist SammyJo Miller. Five large-scale water-themed designs created using colorful inserts will be installed into the chain-link fence. Designs will originate from youth participants and the artist.