Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council

**Mission** ***Mission*** *SEMAC* exists to encourage, promote, and assist regional arts development by providing leadership, outreach, advocacy, mentorship, grants, and services. ***Vision*** - All community members are inspired to take part in the arts and build partnerships that promote the arts and artists. - New culturally rich artistic opportunities are incorporated into our communities while preserving our existing artistic heritages. - Community members, leaders, and policy-makers foster a climate that celebrates imagination, creativity, innovation, and excellence that encourages life-long participation in the arts. ***Core Values*** ***SEMAC*** seeks out and rewards creative efforts of high artistic integrity that stand out among similar efforts. ***SEMAC*** believes that high quality art should be challenging and original, able to illuminate the human condition and serve the vital interests of the community. Rooted in basic human values, ***SEMAC*** believes that art should move the imagination and the heart, and enrich rather than merely entertain. ***SEMAC*** believes that art should be artistically challenging for both the artists and the audience, and should significantly contribute to the development and enrichment of a given art form(s). ***SEMAC*** funded artists must demonstrate serious training with reputable teachers or mentors, a commitment to their art form and life as an artist, and present art of lasting value.