- 30 arts leaders, 15 small to mid-sized towns & cities and one common goal – to invigorate communities through free, live music!
- Levitt Foundation Executive Director, Sharon Yazowski, and Programs Manager, Victoria Bridenstine, led an interactive introductory activity with all grantees.
- Levitt AMP 2018 Grantees shared a laugh during an ice-breaking group activity. From left to right: Meghan Rego (NeighborWorks BRV, Woonsocket, RI), Valerie Horn (Cowan Community Center, Whitesburg, KY), Steve Ruth (Cowan Community Center, Whitesburg, KY) and Margaux Morisseau (NeighborWorks BRV, Woonsocket, RI)
- From left to right: Ali Blair (First Friday Berea, Berea, KY), Gwen Childs (Berea Arts Council, Berea, KY), Steve Ruth (Cowan Community Center, Whitesburg, KY), Valerie Horn (Cowan Community Center, Whitesburg, KY), David Whitlock (Discover Downtown Middlesboro, Middlesboro, KY) and Summer Martin (Discover Downtown Middlesboro, Middlesboro, KY).
- From left to right: Margaux Morriseau (NeighborWorks BRV, Woonsocket, RI), Jaye Baillie (Marion Cultural Alliance, Ocala, FL), Amy Casaletto (Ocala Recreation & Parks, Ocala, FL), Josie Shepherd (California Center for the Arts, Escondido, CA), Stephany Farley (California Center for the Arts, Escondido, CA)
- Sharon Yazowski, Executive Director at the Levitt Foundation, kicked off Day One with a presentation on the power of creative placemaking.
- Patti Sanchez, Senior Director of Programs at the Levitt Foundation, walked Levitt AMP grantees through key Programming guidelines for the upcoming Levitt AMP Music Series.
- Day One featured an interactive panel session with Shannon Saunders (center), a booking Agent at WME and Patrick Brogan (right), Chief Programming Officer & Manager of ArtsQuest Center (Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks), on programming and booking the best talent. The panel was moderated by Patti Sanchez (left), Senior Director of Programs at the Levitt Foundation.
- Ali Blair, Director of First Friday Berea in Berea, KY, provided insight on programming for the Levitt AMP Music Series.
- Molly Stone, Community Outreach Manager at Catamount Film & Arts in St. Johnsbury, VT, shared her organization's past successes with booking a diverse range of artists for the Levitt AMP Music Series.
- Levitt AMP grantees teamed up on several group activities throughout each day. Clockwise: Luis Camacho (Brewery Arts Center, Carson City, NV), Josie Shepherd (California Center for the Arts, Escondido, CA), Stephany Farley (California Center for the Arts, Escondido, CA), Angela Ramey (John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI) and Jamie Lenfestey (AMP Concerts, Santa Fe, NM)
- The grantees brainstormed best practices when it comes to involving the local community into Levitt AMP programming. Clockwise: Tom Campbell (Galva Arts Council, Galva, IL), Michelle Truett (Utica Monday Nite, Utica, NY), Katie Reilly (Made in Utica, Utica, NY) and Tom Gilmour (Trenton Downtown Association, Trenton, NJ)
- Liz Levitt Hirsch, Board President of the Levitt Foundation and Jamie Lenfestey (AMP Concerts, Sante Fe, NM) struck up a conversation during a Levitt AMP Convening dinner.
- Smile for the camera, Josie Shepherd (California Center for the Arts, Escondido, CA) and Summer Martin (Discover Downtown Middlesboro, Middlesboro, KY)!
- Scenes from the Levitt AMP Convening dinner, Day One. From left to right: Margaux Morisseau (NeighborWorks BRV, Woonsocket, RI), Liz Levitt Hirsch, Board President of the Levitt Foundation and Jaye Baillie (Marion Culture Alliance, Ocala, FL)
- Scenes from the Levitt AMP Convening dinner, Day One. From left to right: Luis Camacho (Brewery Arts Center, Carson City, NV), Amy Casaletto (Ocala Recreation & Parks, Ocala, FL) and Tom Campbell (Galva Arts Council, Galva, IL) are fired up for free concerts in 2018!
- Scenes from the Levitt AMP Convening dinner, Day One. From left to right: Victoria Bridenstine, Programs Manager of the Levitt Foundation and Jamie Haack (John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI)
- Scenes from the Levitt AMP Convening dinner, Day One. From left to right: Michelle Truett (Utica Monday Nite, Utica, NY), Sharon Yazowski, Executive Director at the Levitt Foundation and Meghan Rego (Neighborworks BRV, Woonsocket, RI)
- Scenes from the Levitt AMP Convening dinner, Day One. From left to right: Angela Ramey (John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI), Vanessa Silberman, Senior Director of Communications & Strategic Initiatives at the Levitt Foundation and Angela Schenk (CREATE Portage County, Stevens Point, WI)
- Scenes from the Levitt AMP Convening dinner, Day One. From left to right: Mary Howard Ade (Chattanooga Convention & Visitors Bureau, Chattanooga, TN), Jaye Baillie (Marion Cultural Alliance, Ocala, FL) and Patti Sanchez, Senior Director of Programs at the Levitt Foundation
- Vanessa Silberman, Senior Director of Communication & Strategic Initiatives at the Levitt Foundation, shared resources and guidance on communications and marketing strategies for Levitt AMP Grantees.
- Heidi Snyder de Herrera-Vaillant, Director of Operations at the Levitt Foundation and Venue Manager of Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles, shared useful tips and resources on security preparedness for outdoor live music venues.
- Victoria Bridenstine, Programs Manager at the Levitt Foundation, presented on the essentials of building relationships with local businesses for Levitt AMP Grantees.
- David Whitlock, President of Discover Downtown Middlesboro, shared his experiences with engaging the business community during the Levitt AMP Middlesboro Music Series.
- Angela Ramey, Public Programs Associate at John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI, gave her perspective on how to engage the business community during a Levitt AMP Music Series.
- Tom Gilmour, Executive Director of Trenton Downtown Association in Trenton, NJ, gave a presentation on the impact of community engagement and outreach through the Levitt AMP Music Series in Trenton, NJ.
- Jody Fried (Catamount Film & Arts, St. Johnsbury, VT) showed off his group's ideas for the Levitt AMP Music Series.
- Gina Lopez Hill, Executive Director of Brewery Arts Center, Carson City, NV, spoke about the strength of community engagement in her programming at the Levitt AMP Carson City Music Series.
- Day Two of the Convening featured a panel with Helen Leung (center), Co-Executive Director of LA-Más, and Rudy Espinoza (right), Executive Director at Leadership for Urban Renewal Network, on engagement and outreach strategies in their communities. The panel was moderated by Patti Sanchez (left), Senior Director of Programs at the Levitt Foundation.
- Debbie L'insalata (AMP Concerts, Santa Fe, NM) led a group discussion on how to curate a successful Levitt AMP lineup.
- Scenes from the Levitt AMP Convening, Day One. From left to right: Sharon Yazowski, Executive Director at the Levitt Foundation, Tom Gilmour (Trenton Downtown Association) and Vanessa Silberman, Senior Director of Communications & Strategic Initiatives at the Levitt Foundation
- Scenes from the Levitt AMP Convening dinner, Day Two. Clockwise: Ali Blair (First Friday Berea), Michelle Truett (Utica Monday Nite), Katie Reilly (Made in Utica), Steve Ruth (Cowan Community Center, Whitesburg), Tom Gilmour (Trentown Downtown Association), Gwen Childs (Berea Arts Council), Levitt Foundation Executive Director, Sharon Yazowski
- Scenes from the Levitt AMP Convening dinner, Day Two. Clockwise: Tom Campbell (Galva Arts Council), Stephany Farley (California Center for the Arts, Escondido), David Whitlock (Discover Downtown Middlesboro), Levitt Foundation Programs Manager, Victoria Bridenstine
- The Levitt AMP Convening ended on a high note at Los Angeles' very own Karl Strauss Brewing Company!
Last week, the 2018 Levitt AMP Grantees joined the Levitt Foundation for the annual Levitt AMP convening at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes in Los Angeles! It was an honor to host these inspiring leaders in the arts and share ideas throughout two days of panels, presentations and group discussions.
With 15 small to mid-sized towns and cities from California all the way to Rhode Island, this year’s grantees truly represent the breadth of community spirit and placemaking efforts happening across the country. The endless enthusiasm in the room led to fruitful brainstorming and some truly meaningful exchanges. Each attendee left the convening with a newfound sense of energy and inspiration–we can’t wait to see how each Levitt AMP Music Series unfolds with great success this summer and fall!
From Whitesburg, Kentucky: thank-you soooo much for enabling this good work.