Arts Midwest

If you’re looking for some help in finding artists for your organization or venue, here are some resources to get you started.

Please note: The Performing Arts Fund does not maintain its own artist registry.

• Organizations can apply for engagements featuring artists from anywhere in the United States or across the globe, with the exception of artists from the applicant’s own state.
• Some of these rosters feature visual artists, but the Performing Arts Fund only supports organizations that are presenting a professional performing artist/ensemble.

Links to Artists in Arts Midwest’s Region

These links will help you connect to artists from Arts Midwest’s nine-state region. Don’t forget — an application for an engagement with a Midwestern artist automatically earns Star Project status. Learn more about Star Projects.

• The Illinois Artstour Program Roster is a resource for not-for-profit Illinois organizations such as libraries, park districts, arts and community organizations, and schools interested in presenting high-quality live performances or exhibitions in their communities.
• IndianaArts.org is dedicated to providing the most comprehensive and up-to-date information on the arts in Indiana. IndianaArts.org is a collaborative project of Indiana’s 12 regional arts partners, the Indiana Arts Commission, and Traditional Arts Indiana.
• The Iowa Artist Directory, maintained by the Iowa Arts Council, is the place to locate and connect with Iowa artists. The Iowa Artist Directory is a great tool for galleries, presenting organizations, schools, communities, civic, and business organizations to connect with Iowa’s artists for employment and other opportunities.
• Michigan Arts & Humanities Touring Directory, a joint project of the Michigan Humanities Council and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, provides schools, libraries, museums, civic and service groups, festival organizers, and other organizations in Michigan a wide variety of cultural programming opportunities in the fields of dance, music, storytelling, theater, and traditional and visual arts.
• Even though the Minnesota State Arts Board no longer has a separate touring program, one tool they previously created was the Arts Across Minnesota Touring Directory. MNArtists.org maintains a searchable database of Minnesota artists; artists post profiles and samples of their artworks in an online forum format. The Minnesota Folk Arts Alliance also maintains a directory of folk artists based in Minnesota.
• The Ohio Artists on Tour Directory presents information about performing artists available for touring. Artists are selected for inclusion in the directory through a rigorous panel review. They are chosen only if they show excellence in artistic quality, management, ability to work with presenters, and high quality promotional materials.
• The South Dakota Arts Council’s Touring Arts Rosters feature artists that have been selected on the basis of quality by review panels and the South Dakota Arts Council.
• The Wisconsin Arts Board’s Touring & Arts Education Artists Directory provides information on Wisconsin artists. All artists in this directory responded to an open invitation to submit information. Since these artists have not been selected through a review process, they represent varying levels of experience.

Links to Artists Elsewhere in the United States

Coming soon!