Officials ready for Arts conference

Later this month, artists, performers and their agents from all over the Midwest will gather to show booking agents and clients what they have. The Midwest Arts conference is one of the largest performing-arts trade shows in the country. Yvonne Kuhlman plans entertainment programming at Luther College, and says this region sees the best performing artists in the country.Some, like dancers, are moving out of New York for space and cost reasons, and like it out here. Kuhlman says part of the purpose for the Midwest Arts Conference is to let educators and clients book artists ahead for their programs. She books a year in advance, and now is working on the 2002-2003 season. Not only are the audiences Midwestern, most of the performers are, too. Kuhlman’s found plenty to book for appearances at Luther College in Decorah.Chicago Irish dancers, a jazz quintet from Detroit, the Guthrie Theatre from Minneapolis, lots of entertainers from the Midwest. Kuhlman says attending the Midwest Arts Conference is a way to get a look at the best performing artists around today.The Midwest Arts conference this year is September 20-22 in Minneapolis.