APMF: No Levitt Grant Funding But New Initiatives In Place
Series To Continue via support by APP, NJ Gas & Interfaith Neighbors
Asbury Park will not receive Levitt Grant funding in support of its Springwood Avenue Park Summer Concert series, Tom Gilmour, President of the Asbury Park Music Foundation [APMF] announced in news release Monday.
The well attended series launched this summer with support from the Levitt Foundation grant but was voted out of the next round of $25,000 awards.
“Music is the soul of the city and the Asbury Park Music Foundation is all about promoting all the great music that happened in the city and today’s very vibrant music scene that is propelling the city’s popularity,” Gilmour said [at right]. “Seeing all the people enjoying music on the West Side in Springwood Avenue was a testament that Asbury Park is back.”
The Levitt grant process included an online public voting component that results in the top 25 vote getters moving onto a second round vetting. Asbury Park ranked 26, Gilmour said. APMF submitted the application on behalf of the city.
“Based on what happened during the very successful Springwood summer concerts last summer, we are extremely disappointed that Asbury Park did not make the final cut,” Gilmour said. “We sincerely appreciate all those who voted for Asbury Park.”
Gilmour said despite the setback the summer concert series will go on.
“Upon receiving the news, the APMF Board of Trustees met and decided with or without Levitt, the series will continue,” Gilmour said.
The funding shortage will be met by 2016 sponsors, the Asbury Park Press, Interfaith Neighbors and New Jersey Natural Gas, he said.
“The historic launch of the Springwood Park this summer was an amazing happening that brought residents from all over the city together,” he said “The series produced the first live concerts on Springwood Avenue in over 40 years. It was a statement of how far the city has come and a prelude to what is coming to the Springwood community.”
The Asbury Park Music Foundation is a nonprofit with a mission of providing music opportunities for underserved youth and preserving and promoting the city’s rich musical heritage.
Among its initiatives are music lessons for children via its Hope Charter Music Academy, operated by the Lakehouse Music Academy at its Lake Avenue venue; an instrument donation program; its 
Hip Hop Institute at the Boys and Girls Club of Monmouth County, also administered by Lakehouse Music Academy.
Aside from the Springwood Avenue Park Summer Concert Series, APMF conducted the Asbury Park Live free Wednesday night concerts featuring up and coming AP bands on the boardwalk green next to MOGO, and the Thursday night free Asbury Park Concert Band series on the Fifth Avenue boardwalk next to McLoone’s.
Last month APMF opened its new administrative offices and performance space the Lakehouse building [above right], located at 621 Lake Avenue. The new venue will house a teen club where youth can perform, produce, retail and learn how the music industry works, Gilmour said.
APMF will be among the ventures featured in the Lakehouse Grand Opening, being held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. For more on the Grand Opening event, click here. For more on APMF, visit asburyparkmusiclives.org.
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