About
Mission
Montana Performing Arts Consortium exists to:
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Promote and encourage the touring of the performing arts throughout Montana in a professional and cost-effective manner.
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Provide support and technical assistance to performing arts presenters.
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Foster a favorable climate for both artists and presenters in Montana.
Support our mission!
The Montana Performing Arts Consortium (MPAC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit serving Montana's community of presenting organizations and the artists who bring their talent to our stages. Consistent with mission, MPAC provides two important services to the field statewide: the annual artist showcase and conference and the rural Presenter Development assistance program.
MPAC's Artist Showcase & Conference features showcasing performers from throughout the continent and networking events for presenters and artists. The event typically draws 18-20 presenters from the Montana and neighboring states as well as 18-25 artists and artist agencies.
Many presenting organizations are in rural communities and are 100% volunteer-operated. Thus, it is rare for these organizations to send volunteers to large regional booking conferences due to the high travel cost and required time off from work. MPAC's annual conference provides a crucial link between theses rural Montana communities and professional performing artists. Participating presenters often fill all or most of their season series with artists who participate in the conference.
For artists, the conference is an important promotion event. Through the showcase and networking events, many participating artists are able book multiple engagements and cost-effective tours with Montana presenters. Since most rural presenters do not attend larger regional booking conferences, MPAC is a special opportunity for out-of-state artists to get a real sense of the vibrancy of the Montana arts community and the touring potential that exists here.
The Presenter Development Program assists rural non-profit organizations with fee support to bring professional performing artists to their communities for public performances and schools for residency activities.
At the local level, participating organizations provide access to quality live performing artists in their communities. These communities include at least 29 rural Montana towns and associated school districts. Performing arts activities include public performances in a series format and community outreach activities. These outreach activities include school performances, public workshops, master classes, and/or lecture-demonstrations.