About

Formed in 2016, Friends of Levitt Pavilion San Jose is a non-profit organization comprised of community stakeholders committed to the revitalization of St. James Park as a safe and inclusive destination for people of all ages and background.  The new outdoor Pavilion will feature 50+ free concerts throughout the year along with other performances.

Mission

Levitt Pavilion San Jose’s mission is to build community through free live music and performing arts, transforming historic St. James Park into a safe and inclusive destination for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Vision
Levitt Pavilion San Jose envisions a meaningful cultural venue enlivened by 50 free concerts and performing arts events annually in an open lawn setting, and serving as a visual, experiential, and economic catalyst for the Downtown historic core.

Values
Connected to Community – We listen to the rhythms and beats of our community to foster a connection and to create harmonious programming representative of our community.

Excellence – We aim for the highest standard in live performance with exceptional planning and execution. We place the artist center stage and create a memorable experience for the concert goer.

Leadership – As leaders individually and collectively, we inspire others to engage with the arts and our community through our programming and arts advocacy.

Collaborative – Collaboration is at the heart of our work. We connect with San Jose’s diverse communities for new music, ideas, and opportunities, to ensure we support and foster the live music and performing arts bursting in all of our neighborhoods.

Culturally Inclusive – San Jose is one of the most culturally diverse cities in California. The Levitt Pavilion is a performance venue that celebrates and presents local performers, giving voice to our cultural diversity.

The Levitt Story
It all began with Mortimer Levitt – a son of struggling immigrant parents who became a successful retail entrepreneur.  In the 1960’s, Levitt created a family foundation focused on youth and performing arts and built his first pavilion in Westport Connecticut.  This project evolved into an innovative philanthropy program to help communities establish their own Levitt music venues. There are six Levitt pavilions today, from Arlington Texas, to Bethlehem Pennsylvania. All have played a transformational role in reinvigorating their host parks into a healthy “third space” serving the broader community.

Check out Levitt Foundation’s work in other cities: