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
Eric Olmscheid President
Wharton Center for Performing Arts
Michigan State University
Jennifer Ross
Vice President
Walton Arts Center
Sara Barasch Secretary
IMG Artists
Jared Duymovic
Treasurer
Cadenza Artists
Tara Bailey
Bailiwick Booking Agency
Lindsay Bauer
Kansas City Repertory Theatre
Bill Blagg
Bill Blagg | Magic & Illusion
Gail Boyd
Gail Boyd Artist Management
Tianna Conway
Moraine Valley Fine & Performing Arts Center
Shantel Dow
Sheldon Theatre of Performing Arts
Kevin Horton
William Morris Endeavor
Kerith Iverson
Québec Government Office in Chicago
Sarah McCarthy
Dandelion Artists
Gary Minyard
Lisa Rock
Close to You / Lisa Rock Entertainment
2026 MAX Support Staff
Consulting Executive
Consulting Executive
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







































