The council authorized staff to partner with the Arts Council of the Brazos Valley on a Levitt AMP grant application that would fund a free outdoor music series in the Northgate Promenade.

The Levitt AMP program provides matching grants to non-profit partners to present free concerts in public spaces over multiple years. Under the program the Arts Council would apply for up to $40,000 per year in matching funds for three years (2026), enabling seven to ten free shows per season between April and October. The City's role would include partnering on logistics, event permitting and public-space activation; because the Levitt program requires a non-profit applicant, the Arts Council will submit the application and serve as fiscal agent. City staff said the project is envisioned as a Northgate activation, timed to complement other area programming and to draw new audiences downtown.

Council voted unanimously to approve the MOU that allows the Arts Council to submit the grant application and to pursue a future service-level agreement should the grant be awarded. Staff said any future city match or SLA would be vetted through the FY2026 budget process.

What's next: Arts Council will submit the Levitt AMP application; if the grant is awarded staff and the Arts Council will return with event plans and any requested city financial match for council consideration.