ABOUT MAX

What is MAX

The Midwest Arts XPO (MAX) is an arts conference created by Heartland Performing Arts, Inc., a nonprofit organization since June 28, 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.

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.

2026 Heartland Performing Arts Board of Directors

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Eric Olmscheid President

Wharton Center for Performing Arts

Michigan State University

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Jennifer Ross
Vice President

Walton Arts Center

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Sara Barasch Secretary

IMG Artists

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Jared Duymovic
Treasurer

Cadenza Artists

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Tara Bailey

Bailiwick Booking Agency

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Lindsay Bauer

Kansas City Repertory Theatre

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Bill Blagg

Bill Blagg | Magic & Illusion

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Gail Boyd

Gail Boyd Artist Management

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Tianna Conway

Moraine Valley Fine & Performing Arts Center

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Shantel Dow

Sheldon Theatre of Performing Arts

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Kevin Horton

William Morris Endeavor

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Kerith Iverson

Québec Government Office in Chicago

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Sarah McCarthy

Dandelion Artists

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Gary Minyard

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Lisa Rock

Close to You / Lisa Rock Entertainment

2026 MAX Support Staff

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Tommy Hensel

Consulting Executive

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Janet Barlow-Herman

Consulting Executive

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Robin Hughes

Operations Coordinator

Founding Committee Members

After the announcement of Arts Midwest conference not continuing in October 2021, agents/artists/presenters got together shortly after, to strategize the future of touring/presenting. The founding committee started in January 2022 and the following people assisted with the inaugural conference in Indianapolis 2023.

Sara Barasch

Janet Herman Barlow

Laurel Canan

Annick-Patricia Carriere

Tianna Conway

Shantel Dow

Jared Duymovic

Amy Gosz

Daniel Hahn

Tommy Hensel

Kris Kaminski

Michael Kott

Jeff Laramie

Timothy Mar

Derrick McBride

Nicole Mulder

Maestro Robert Nance

Eric Olmscheid

Gary Peterson

Plains Presenters

Jennifer Ross

Bill Smith

Stephan Stubbins

Mark & Jennnifer Yonally

Robert Zucker

Founding Donors

Heartland Performing Arts, Inc. thanks the following generous individuals and organizations for their founding donations to this exciting new venture that launched in September 2023!

Lindsay Bauer

Loni Boyd

Laurel Canan

Tianna Conway

Tommy Hensel

Mary Jennings

Luisa Kormann

Jeff Laramie

Gary Minyard

Jennifer Morris

Nicole Mulder

Eric Olmscheid

Peter Palermo

Maureen Patton

Kevin Peters

Thomas Robbins

Lisa Rock

Leslie Rodriguez

Crandall Rogers