MARSHALL — The Southwest Minnesota Arts Council recently awarded more than $135,000 in grant funding to a total of 21 different arts projects across the region. In a Monday news release, SMAC said grant recipients include area groups like the Granite Falls Historical Society, projects like music and arts festivals in Hutchinson, and more.

In addition to awarding a total of $126,250 for art project grants, SMAC also awarded a total of $6,500 for music and theater programs at two southwest Minnesota schools, and a total of $2,990 for three individual artists in the region.

SMAC Executive Director Nicole DeBoer said the council has seen a steady number of grant applications.

“The arts are still in need of support,” DeBoer said, but SMAC wasn’t seeing big fluctuations in the numbers of applicants. “Because we are seeing stability, we are seeing that our arts organizations are surviving.”

The list of recipients of art project grants included organizations and projects in communities from Worthington to Willmar. Closer to Marshall, recipients included the Prairie Arts Chorale, which was awarded $9,100 for their spring 2026 concert season; the Tyler Area Arts Council, which was awarded $8,200 for upcoming theater productions in July and November; and the Granite Falls Historical Society, which was awarded $9,500 for artist Stefanie Kiihn to create two historic art maps.

DeBoer said the Historical Society was a new applicant for art project grants. “It’s a different kind of project, as well,” she said. The historic art maps would illustrate Lac qui Parle Lake in the 1840s, and the city of Granite Falls during the Progressive Era, when Granite Falls resident Andrew J. Volstead was in Congress.

DeBoer said another unusual project that was awarded a grant was Purpose Artisans’ project to have a community-based theatre project including readings of the original play “Willmar.” The project would also include cultural acts from local artists, shared meals and community gatherings. Purpose Artisans were awarded a $10,000 grant.

DeBoer said SMAC has also seen “a tremendous increase” in applications for Arts in the Schools grants. Those grants provide public schools with up to $4,000 for projects like artist residencies, field trips, juried student art exhibits and more.

SMAC announced that Dawson-Boyd Schools was awarded an Arts in the Schools grant for folk musician Ross Sutter to spend a week at Stevens Elementary School in Dawson. Sutter will work with fourth grade students, and teach them to build and play a one-string dulcimer. Hutchinson High School was also awarded an Arts in the Schools grant for a residency with theater artist Mason Tyer.

DeBoer said supporting arts projects and events is something that has a wider economic impact on area communities. People who come to performances or arts events are also spending time in those communities, and supporting local businesses like shops, restaurants and hotels.

“It is tenfold,” DeBoer said of the impact.