BELL TOWER AND THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SYMPHONY FORGE COMMUNITY-FOCUSED RELATIONSHIP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 3, 2020MEDIA CONTACTS:Deborah Blackford / blkfrd@earthlink.net / 714-280-8765Karen Franse / karenfranse@gmail.com / 386-649-1887Carmen Herlihy / cherlihypr@gmail.com / 646-770-2623BELL TOWER AND THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SYMPHONYFORGE COMMUNITY-FOCUSED RELATIONSHIPShopping Center Provides Space for Orchestral Practice and PerformancesFORT MYERS, Fla. – December 3, 2020 – Bell Tower, a landmark shopping, dining and entertainment destination centrally located in Fort Myers, Florida (https://www.thebelltowershops.com/), today announced it has provided the use of a 4,254-square-foot storefront to the Southwest Florida Symphony, the only professional symphony orchestra in Lee County and one of the oldest on Florida’s Gulf Coast, as part of a strategic and long-term community-minded partnership between the two entities.“This partnership, an extension of the wonderful multi-year relationship between Bell Tower and the Southwest Florida Symphony, will benefit the Fort Myers community by bolstering the arts,” says Julie Clark, Marketing Manager for the shopping center. “By providing the Southwest Florida Symphony with much-needed space for practice and small-scale performances, we are bringing the area’s most beloved professional orchestra to Bell Tower, marrying the beauty of symphonic music with the art of shopping and dining in a way that will be truly meaningful and enjoyable for our mutual guests.”The space provided by Bell Tower, which includes a satellite box office for the Symphony, will be used for Youth Orchestra rehearsals and performances as well as professional orchestral rehearsals, auditions and small performances, including the first performance scheduled for December 5th from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in front of the Christmas tree in the shopping center’s Center Court. The upcoming performance, which is free of charge and open to the public, is part of the orchestra’s small ensemble format “Holiday TinyPops” concert series featuring holiday favorites that are both festive and memorable.“We’re so grateful to Bell Tower’s management for its generosity and visionary thinking, and we’re excited about what the future holds for us both,” says Amy Ginsburg, Executive Director of the Southwest Florida Symphony. “Bell Tower has always been a beautiful, upscale center of commerce. We envision patrons and Youth Orchestra families shopping and strolling through the shopping center before concerts or while observing rehearsals. They’ll attend our events, then stay on the property for a post-concert dinner and drinks. It’s the perfect marriage of two southwest Florida icons, and a unique and exciting way to engage youth and families in the arts while enhancing the lives of Fort Myers residents and visitors.”Earlier this year, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank also granted Southwest Florida Symphony the use of 2,100 square feet of administrative office space for three years. While moving some of its administrative functions into the new space, the Symphony will continue to conduct business operations from its 7500 College Parkway location, also in South Fort Myers, as well.About the Southwest Florida SymphonyThe Southwest Florida Symphony is the only professional symphony orchestra in Lee County and one of the oldest on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Founded by conductor Arlo Deibler, the symphony made its debut as a community orchestra on April 15, 1961, with a roster of 24 musicians who performed in community centers and schools throughout Lee and Collier counties. It has since grown to become Lee County’s premiere symphonic ensemble with a roster of 70 world-class musicians playing to packed houses at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall. The Southwest Florida Symphony’s mission is to celebrate the joy of music and to inspire audiences with a variety of professional-quality concerts that are accessible to all. To learn more, visit https://www.swflso.org/.The Southwest Florida Symphony’s 2020-21 sponsor list includes The City of Fort Myers, The Cape Coral Community Foundation, The State of Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, The Florida Council on Arts & Culture, The Bell Tower, The Southwest Florida Symphony Endowment Foundation, The Southwest Florida Symphony Society, The L.A.T. Foundation, Uhler & Vertich Financial Planners, Ellie Fox, Burgess Brant Consulting Engineers, Florida Weekly, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank, The Friends of the Symphony on Sanibel, Ernie Fogg Sr. and Margot Flinn, Mr. Jeff Cull and Ms. Ella Nayor, Liz Marnul, Gary Niethamer and Sue Purcell, Rob Diefenbach and Mr. Eric Diefenbach and JK Brown.About Bell TowerBell Tower is a landmark shopping, dining and entertainment destination centrally located in Fort Myers, Florida. The open-air center offers a creative combination of brand-name retail favorites and exclusive boutiques that include popular grocer The Fresh Market, Williams-Sonoma, Bed Bath & Beyond, Talbots, Francesca’s, Ulta Beauty, Bath & Body Works, Driftwood Blue, Oceanview & Seventh, The Cheshire Cat Fine Toys, and Brodeur Carvell. The center’s exceptional shopping is complemented by distinctive restaurants such as DaRuMa Japanese Steak House and Sushi Lounge, Grimaldi's Pizzeria, Blue Pointe Oyster Bar & Seafood Grill, Cantina Laredo, Mimi's Café, T.G.I. Friday's, Society, World of Beer and Ice Spot, and by entertainment venues including Dave & Buster’s and a 20-screen Regal Cinemas complex making Bell Tower a true day-to-night destination. A longtime community partner and pet-friendly shopping-dining-entertainment adventure, Bell Tower is owned and operated by Madison Marquette, a leading real estate investor, developer and service provider. To learn more, visit https://www.thebelltowershops.com/ or follow Bell Tower on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.