What is MAX?

The Midwest Arts XPO (MAX) is an arts conference created by Heartland Performing Arts, Inc., a nonprofit organization since June 2022, which brings together arts professionals to encourage innovation, create educational opportunities, strengthen artist touring relationships, and support arts advocacy throughout the central United States. The organization was founded by agents, artists, and state consortia leaders from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and beyond.

The project has the full support of the Arts Midwest leadership as well as the presenter networks in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, and beyond.
Indianapolis has been selected as the location for the 2023 and 2024 conferences.  Mark your calendar for September 18-21, 2023 and September 16-19, 2024.  Bookmark this page and join the mailing list to receive news and updates.

Mission Statement

Heartland Performing Arts is a nonprofit organization which brings together arts professionals to encourage innovation, create educational opportunities, strengthen artist touring relationships, and support arts advocacy throughout the central United States. The organization was founded by agents, artists, and state consortia leaders from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Plains Presenters, Southwest Presenters, and Wisconsin.

Heartland Performing Arts Board of Directors

Tommy Hensel, President

Elgin Community College & IL Presenters Network Chair

Eric Olmscheid, Vice President

Wharton Center for Performing Arts at Michigan State University

Tianna Conway, Secretary

Moraine Valley Community College & WI Presenters Network Chair

Jeff Laramie, Treasurer

SRO Artists Inc

Sara Barasch, IMG Artists

Gail Boyd, Gail Boyd Artist Management 

Laurel Canan, Siegel Artist Management

Jared Duymovic, Marcus Performing Arts Center

Kevin Horton, William Morris Endeavor

Timothy Mar, Arts Management Group

Derrick McBride, Dance Theatre of Harlem

Lisa Rock, Close to You / Lisa Rock Entertainment

Ichun Yeh, Sozo Media

Midwest Arts Xpo Committee

Lindsay Bauer (Fairfield Arts & Convention Center, Sondheim Center)

Loni Boyd (Wisconsin Lutheran College)

Mary Jennings (Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts at Michigan Technological University)

Luisa Kormann (The Roots Agency)

Gary Minyard (Dayton Live)

Jennifer Morris (Siegel Artist Management)

Nicole Mulder (Theatre L’Homme Dieu)

Peter Palermo (Sheldon Arts Foundation)

Maureen Patton (The Grand 1894 Opera House)

Kevin Peters (G.L. Berg Entertainment)

Thomas Robbins (University of Dubuque, Heritage Center)

Lisa Rock (Lisa Rock Entertainment)

Leslie Rodriguez (Dominican University Performing Arts Center)

Crandall Rogers (Four Mortals Production)

Founding Donors

Heartland Performing Arts, Inc. thanks the following generous individuals and organizations for their founding donations to this exciting new venture!

Sara Barasch

Janet Herman Barlow

Laurel Canan

Annick-Patricia Carriere

Tianna Conway

Shantel Dow

Jared Duymovic

Amy Gosz

Daniel Hahn

Tommy Hensel

Kris Kaminski

Micheal Kott

Jeff Laramie

Timothy Mar

Derrick McBride

Nicole Mulder

Maestro Robert Nance

Eric Olmscheid

Gary Peterson

Plains Presenters

Jennifer Ross

Bill Smith

Stephen Stubbins

Mark & Jennifer Yonally
Robert Zucker