TULSA, OKLA. (KTUL) — Five of Tulsa’s destination districts have received a $32,000 per-year matching grant from the Levitt Foundation to present the Levitt BLOC Tulsa Music Series through 2028.
The grant will bring free outdoor concerts to the Greenwood District, Phoenix District, Tulsa Route 66 Main Street, Tulsa Global District, and Kendall Whittier Main Street.
The City of Tulsa launched the Destination Districts Program in 2019 to foster vibrant, culturally rich spaces where residents and visitors want to gather.
The program aims to boost economic growth, celebrate authentic local culture, strengthen community pride, and attract new residents and tourism.
The five districts collaborated on a competitive national grant application to bring more music and arts opportunities to Tulsa neighborhoods.
Funded by the Levitt Foundation, which supports the nation’s largest free outdoor concert series, the Levitt Music Series Grants provide multi-year funding for concerts that activate underused public spaces and bring communities together.
Each Levitt BLOC site presents 7–10 free concerts annually, featuring a mix of local, regional, and national artists across genres including pop, jazz, folk, country, blues, and world music.
Sharon Yazowski, President and CEO of the Levitt Foundation, said the BLOC program helps activate multiple public spaces, strengthening social connections and cultural vitality.
“The Levitt BLOC Tulsa Music Series will bring people of all ages together across different neighborhoods, creating joyful and welcoming experiences throughout the city,” Yazowski said.
Leaders from Tulsa’s districts celebrated the grant as a way to increase access to high-quality live music citywide.
Evon Markum, Executive Director of Kendall Whittier Main Street, said, “It’s more than a concert series; it’s a movement to bring neighbors together through the universal language of music.”
Burlinda Radney, interim Executive Director of the Greenwood District Main Street, noted that music has deep roots in the district.
“From legends like Charlie Wilson and the GAP Band to today’s emerging voices, free live music allows us to showcase our culture, our history, and the power of community through sound,” Radney said.
The Levitt Foundation’s 2026–2028 grant cycle will support 34 new and 32 returning grantees nationwide, providing more than $7 million to bring free music to communities across the country.
In Tulsa, the Levitt BLOC series will highlight local culture, boost economic activity, and create opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy music together across the city’s five destination districts.
For more information:
- Historic Greenwood District: historicgreenwooddistrict.com
- Phoenix District: phoenixdistricttulsa.org
- Kendall Whittier Main Street: visitkendallwhittier.com
- Tulsa Global District: globaldistrict.org
- Tulsa Route 66 Main Street: rt66tulsa.org
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source ktul.com ’
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