Tom Hall

This year is ArtFest Fort Myers' 25th anniversary. It's Gulf Coast Symphony's 35th anniversary. They're celebrating these milestones with a Pops Concert in the Caloosa Sound Amphitheater this Friday night.

Six shows open, one closes and 13 others continue their runs this week at Southwest Florida equity and community theaters.

This weekend, five outdoor art festivals take place in Southwest Florida.

The Marco Island Center for the Arts has on view a group show that features work by six accomplished artists.

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe is celebrating Black History Month with playwright August Wilson’s “Fences.” Each of Wilson’s Century Cycle plays speak about the African-American experience in this country. In this context, says Artistic Director Nate Jacobs, “Fences” focuses on the universal theme of families, in particular, the father-son relationship.

Internationally renowned artist Hunt Slonem recently donated an artwork titled “Totem Winter” to the Golisano Children’s Museum’s permanent collection.

“Nude Nocturne” is a celebration of the human body as a living, breathing expression of identity, emotion and spirit. While there is a weeks-long exhibition in the gallery of nude artwork submitted by talented artists from across the country, the main event takes place at the Alliance for the Arts on Saturday night.

Thunderous applause echoed through U. Tobe Recital Hall at the Bower School of Music as the names were announced of the four singers who won the inaugural Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Opera Naples International Voice Competition. They are soprano Luna Park, mezzo-soprano Simona Genga, tenor Minghao Liu and bass Camhur Gorgun.

Southwest Florida is the site of three outdoor art festivals during the weekend of January 25 & 26.

Two shows open and two others close this week in Southwest Florida theaters while 10 others continue their runs.