The Shreveport Regional Arts Council (SRAC) has advanced to the public voting phase for a $120k multi-year grant to produce a FREE, OUTDOOR MUSIC SERIES at the Caddo Common Park Pavilion within Shreveport Common in Downtown Shreveport. SRAC is now in the running to bring a free outdoor music series to Shreveport starting in 2026. The public is urged to support SRAC’s proposal by participating in the public voting process – online, text to vote, or scanned QR code – taking place from September 5-15, 2025, at levitt.org/vote.
With funding from the Levitt Foundation—a national social impact funder at the intersection of music, public space, and community building that supports the largest free outdoor concert series in America- SRAC hopes to qualify as a finalist to receive a Levitt Music Series Grant. The grant would fund a diverse line up of music genres spanning Rock, Pop, R&B, Jazz, Hip Hop, Classical, “Oldies,” Reggae, Gospel, Alternative, and more featuring both local (new and established talent) and nationally known musicians.
The Levitt Music Series Grant is an exciting, multi-year matching grant created by the Levitt Foundation to bring the joy of free outdoor concerts to towns and cities across the country. For the 2026–2028 grant cycle, the Levitt Foundation will award U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits up to $120,000 over three years (up to $40,000 per year), to produce their own Levitt Music Series—7-10 free outdoor concerts annually featuring a diverse lineup of music genres with professional musicians, activating an underused public space, creating a vibrant, inclusive community destination for people of all ages and backgrounds.
The Arts Council submitted the proposal for Shreveport to present the free music series at the Pavilion in Caddo Common Park, located in Downtown Shreveport’s western edge known as Shreveport Common. Shreveport’s proposal is now posted on the Levitt Foundation website, where the public can vote and learn more about the proposals from across the country that have advanced to the voting phase.
Online public voting opens September 5, at 12 noon and ends September15, at 7:00 pm. An individual may submit one vote for up to five proposals of their choosing. There are three easy ways for the public to cast their vote: online at levitt.org/vote, or via text to 877-409-5525 with keyword SHREVEPORT, or scan the QR Code found below, or on the SRAC website: shrevearts.org, and a vote for SHREVEPORT will be automatically registered.
Reflecting the Levitt Foundation’s mission that all Levitt projects are community-driven, the public voting phase of the Levitt Music Series Grants selection process is an important way to measure community support. The number of online and text votes received for SHREVEPORT will be one of the key factors used when the Levitt Foundation determines the grant recipients this November.
The 50 finalists will be selected through the online and text-to-vote public voting phase. The Levitt Foundation will then review the top proposals to select the Levitt Music Series Grants recipients, which will be announced on Nov. 18.
SRAC’s Executive Director, Rebecca Bonnevier, explains that “SRAC has provided UNcommon, UNexpected, UNprecedented programming in Caddo Common Park since opening with almost 50 inflated sculptures by FriendsWithYou in 2019. However, this grant provides the chance to imagine an UNcanny 10-week Music Series with a consistent three years of FREE OUTDOOR MUSIC CONCERTS! This is literally an UNbelievable opportunity for Shreveport and our surrounding communities.”
Stormy Gage-Watts, District 7 Caddo Parish Commissioner, and Commission President says, “As President of Caddo Parish Commission, I am proud to support free programming at Caddo Common Park, recognizing that accessible cultural experiences strengthen the fabric of our community. Expanding free live music opportunities not only brings people together but also fosters local talent, boosts economic activity, and enhances the quality of life for all residents. By investing in these vibrant public events, we are building a more connected, creative, and thriving community for everyone to enjoy.”
Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux adds, “Shreveport has a long history of celebrating the arts, and this opportunity would allow us to expand that tradition with free, live music for all to enjoy at Caddo Common Park. I encourage our community to show their support by voting for Shreveport in this process. Let’s make this happen!”
SRAC asks supporters to spread the word throughout the community to family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors – those who live here or there – and care about a dynamic quality of life through music. “This is our chance to rally the community to Vote: SHREVEPORT and support professional and emerging musicians” announced musician and advocate Winston Hall.
Shreveport Regional Arts Council’s mission is to “Imagine That!” by developing, promoting, educating about and maximizing access to all of the Arts for all people. SRAC is the “designated” Arts Council for Northwest Louisiana and the City of Shreveport. Programs include Arts in Education, the ArtBreak educational showcase of the K-12 Arts Programs and STEAM learning, Glo Fests and Lightshows on the Bakowski Bridge of Lights at the Red River; Concerts, Arts Markets, and Family Games at Caddo Common Park; Exhibitions at ARTSPACE in downtown, Shreveport; and Spoken Word, Exhibitions, and Theatrical Presentations at the Central ARTSTATION.
The Levitt Foundation is a private family foundation that exists to strengthen the social fabric of America. The Foundation supports changemakers and nonprofits across the country to activate underused public spaces through free outdoor concerts, creating welcoming, joyful, and inclusive destinations where the power of free, live music brings people together, fosters belonging and social connections, creates economic opportunity, and invigorates community life. Levitt venues and concert sites attract people of all ages and backgrounds.