Inside Philanthropy Report on The Lewis Prize for Music
“Founded by Miami philanthropist Daniel Lewis, the Lewis Prize for Music focuses on leaders whose organizations are advancing positive change for historically marginalized young people through music.
The prize divides $1.5 million to three winners over two to five years—a huge amount of money for the perennially underfunded field of music education. Recipients preside over creative youth development (CYD) programs that provide young people with opportunities to create music while serving their food, transportation, mental health and academic needs.
It was a powerful idea when I spoke with Lewis back in January. Six months later, the approach looks prescient, given that COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted disadvantaged communities across the U.S.
Now comes word that the Lewis Prize for Music has announced a COVID-19 crisis fund of $1.25 million for 32 youth CYD organizations that have “adapted and responded to the pressing needs of the young people they serve” amid the challenges of the pandemic. Many of the recipients have budgets of less than $100,000 per year, and two-thirds are led by people of color. “
By combining artistic training with access to mentorship, tutoring, meals, transportation, mental health services and workforce training, CYD providers meet the immediate and unique needs of these young people—needs which have become more pronounced during COVID-19,” Lewis Prize CEO Dalouge Smith told me. “As soon as we saw CYD organizations adapting and responding to this moment of crisis, we knew they needed support to evolve and sustain their efforts.”
I recently checked in with Smith about the emergency fund. We also discussed the burgeoning CYD field, the need for youth development funders to take a more holistic approach toward grantmaking, and how advocates can best make the case for the arts during and after COVID-19.”