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.

• Keep in mind that organizations may apply for engagements with artists from the Midwest, across the United States, or anywhere in the world, except from the organization’s own state.

• The Performing Arts Fund does not maintain its own artist registry.

Links to artists in Arts Midwest’s region

• 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. [971 KB PDF] 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. In addition, Wisconsin Folks is a juried roster of traditional and folk artists in Wisconsin, combined with curricular resource materials for classes.