2005 Midwest Arts Conference Coming to Indianapolis, Indiana

2005 Midwest Arts Conference Coming to Indianapolis, Indiana

Performing Arts Conference/Trade Show Sets the Stage for Midwest Performances

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- The 18th annual Midwest Arts Conference will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana from September 14 - 17, 2005. The only one of its kind in the Central United States, the Conference brings together more than 1,000 performing artists, performing arts managers, theater and facility managers, and arts administrators from throughout the United States and North America to coordinate performing arts tours and series and provide professional development. The Conference, an annual performing arts booking and educational conference, was last in Indianapolis 19 years ago, when it was the Midwest Booking Conference. The Midwest Arts Conference has since enriched and expanded its programming and audience -- now with double its prior attendance. The event will convene at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown and Indiana Convention Center.

The Conference features a vast Exhibit Hall filled with videos playing contemporary dance on darkened stages; headphones sounding classical, ethnic, and jazz music; and conversations regarding dates and venues between artists and presenters at venues ranging from small community colleges to major performing arts centers. Much of what Midwest audiences will see on stages in the 2006-2007 season will be determined at this Conference.

In addition to the Exhibit Hall, there will be education sessions on topics such as partnership capacity, audience development, effective staff building and leadership, and "Babes in Arts" -- on women in the performing arts. The Conference plenary session will feature Americans for the Arts President and CEO Robert Lynch discussing Creative Industries: Business & Employment in the Arts, a new research-based approach to understanding the scope and importance of the arts to the nation's economy, commissioned by Americans for the Arts and released in 2004.

The registration fee, which includes many meals and social events during the Conference's four days, is $380 for the first person and $350 for each additional person from an organization. Interested individuals may register on-site. Complete information is available at http://www.artsmidwest.org/ , or by calling Arts Midwest at 612.341.0755.

Among the highlights of this year's event are:
-- All-Conference luncheon featuring a performance by Michael Wolff &
Impure Thoughts
-- Artist Chat featuring jazz artist and National Endowment for the Arts
Jazz Master David Baker
-- Field trips to the Indianapolis Museum of Art and Indiana Repertory
Theatre
-- Opening-Night Party at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and
Western Art
-- Closing-Night Reception at the spectacular Indianapolis Artsgarden
-- Saturday Brunch featuring the a cappella group Ball in the House

Performance Showcases

The Conference features 25 panel-selected Spotlight Showcases, mini- performances of dance, music, theater, and performance art performed at Clowes Memorial Hall mainstage at Butler University and the White River Ballroom at the Indiana Convention Center. The showcases are a vital part of the Conference, offering presenters the opportunity to see live performances of a wide range of artists, while providing artists with a forum for presenting their work to a large and diverse audience. In addition to Spotlight Showcases, dozens of independently arranged showcases will also take place at venues across Indianapolis.

Conference Leadership

The 2005 Midwest Arts Conference co-chairs are Jeannette Gardner of Gardner Arts Network (New York, New York) and Stuart Secttor of the Civic Hall Performing Arts Center (Richmond, Indiana). The Host Committee co-chairs are Bobbie Garver of the Indiana Arts Commission (Indianapolis, Indiana) and Todd Wetzel of Purdue Convocations (West Lafayette, Indiana). The Conference is administered by Arts Midwest.

Conference Sponsors

Arts Midwest is very pleased to announce that for the 16th consecutive year, Sprint is the major corporate sponsor of the Midwest Arts Conference. Additional sponsors who have helped make the Conference a success are: Lilly Endowment Inc.; LVanHart Artist Productions and Michael Wolff; Ball in the House, represented by Robin Klinger Entertainment LLC; the Canadian Consulates General of Detroit, Chicago, Dallas, and Minneapolis; Arts Council of Indianapolis, Inc.; Quebec Delegation Chicago; Indiana Arts Commission; IMG Artists; AMS Planning & Research Corp.; Lazer Vaudeville; and Ballet Internationale-Indianapolis. Additional support is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Arts Midwest connects the arts to audiences throughout the nine-state region of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Arts Midwest connects people throughout the Midwest and the world to meaningful arts opportunities, sharing creativity, knowledge, and understanding across boundaries. Based in Minneapolis, the organization works in partnership with private and public arts supporters including the National Endowment for the Arts, our nine member state arts agencies, corporations, foundations, and individuals.

Source: Arts Midwest

CONTACT: Susan T. Chandler of Arts Midwest, +1-612-341-0755 x25,
susan@artsmidwest.org

Web site: http://www.artsmidwest.org/

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