Our History

A Statewide Network Built on Connection

The Montana Performing Arts Consortium (MPAC) was founded in 1981, when a group of Montana performing arts presenters—then often referred to as “sponsors”—began meeting informally to address a shared challenge and a shared opportunity. Montana’s vast geography, small population centers, and long travel distances made it difficult for individual communities to present professional performing artists on their own. At the same time, artists touring the region needed more coordinated, cost‑effective ways to reach audiences across the state.

With early support and facilitation from the Montana Arts Council, these organizations began cooperating on block‑booking and resource sharing. MPAC emerged as a collaborative solution rooted in the belief that Montana’s presenting communities could accomplish far more together than they could alone.

Early Years: Convening the Field

A steering committee formed in late 1981, and block‑booking sessions and workshops were held in communities including Bozeman, Helena, Billings, and Great Falls. MPAC formally incorporated as a nonprofit on November 16, 1982, receiving its federal tax‑exempt status in 1983.

In April 1984, MPAC held its first official booking conference at Paris Gibson Square Museum in Great Falls. The conference combined workshops, consultations, and live showcase performances—promoting Montana artists while helping presenters plan future seasons together. From the outset, MPAC’s founders believed that presenter development and artist development must go hand in hand, a principle that continues to guide the organization today.

The annual gathering soon evolved into what is now the Artist Showcase & Conference, becoming a cornerstone of MPAC’s work and a vital convening point for presenters, artists, and agents.

Expanding Impact: Presenter Development

Throughout the mid‑1980s, MPAC expanded beyond convenings to provide hands‑on support for communities. The organization offered technical assistance workshops on programming, contracts, marketing, budgeting, fundraising, and other practical aspects of presenting. MPAC also published the first Montana Performing Artists Catalog in 1985, a pre‑internet resource that helped communities share limited equipment, expertise, and artistic resources.

In 1987, MPAC introduced a fee‑support initiative—originally known as “Quick Grants”. This program provided direct financial assistance to strengthen new and existing performing arts series, particularly in rural communities. Over time, it evolved into what is now the Presenter Development program.

Through artist fee support, technical assistance, and outreach activities, Presenter Development has helped ensure that communities across Montana—many of which would otherwise have limited access to live performance—can host professional artists and provide meaningful cultural experiences for residents and students alike.

In 1991, MPAC’s approach to rural presenter support gained national recognition when the organization was awarded a two‑year national model pilot project grant from the National Endowment for the Arts’ Presenting and Commissioning Program. This research initiative studied the impact of federal funding on rural performing arts series and ultimately led to MPAC’s Presenter Development Program serving as a national model. As a result, MPAC became one of six original participants in the NEA’s Rural and Inner City Re‑grant Initiative—affirming the program’s effectiveness and influence beyond Montana.

Evolving With the Field

MPAC’s early success demonstrated the power of cooperation. Even before formal incorporation, the organization helped presenters save significant resources through block‑booking and coordinated tours, bringing artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, the Chinese Magic Circus, and Pacific Northwest Ballet to multiple Montana communities.

This cooperative spirit was embodied by early leaders such as Arnie Malina, MPAC’s founding board president and a longtime champion of independent film and performing arts in Helena. As director of what became The Myrna Loy Center, Malina helped shape MPAC as a practical, entrepreneurial, and community‑driven organization—one focused on sharing resources, building relationships, and expanding access to the arts.

Over more than four decades, MPAC has continued to evolve alongside Montana’s performing arts community. Changes in technology, funding landscapes, audience behavior, and touring practices have continually reshaped how the work is done. MPAC has adapted by refining its programs, expanding its membership, and responding to the evolving needs of presenters, artists, and arts partners.

Looking Ahead

Today, MPAC serves as a central connector for Montana’s performing arts ecosystem. While the organization’s core commitment to collaboration and access remains unchanged, its work continues to evolve in response to new challenges and opportunities.

Guided by its strategic plan and informed by decades of shared experience, MPAC is working toward a future in which the performing arts are recognized, valued, and supported as an essential contributor to quality of life in Montana communities.