Tower City walkway at top of grand staircase named GuitarManiaŽ Lane in honor of GuitarMania project; as of March 16, see artists creating their art works for GuitarMania II, Encore in 2004
Beginning with a special kick-off program at noon on March 16, the public is invited to come to Tower City Center's GuitarManiaŽ Lane to see several of the artists live on site actually creating the designs on their guitars.

(Cleveland, Ohio) March 8, 2004
Following a special public celebration at noon on Tuesday, March 16, the walkway at the top of Tower City Center's grand staircase will be GuitarManiaŽ Lane, honoring the award-winning GuitarManiaŽ community art project, initiated by United Way Services in cooperation with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

The public is invited to attend the special kick-off program for Tower City Center's GuitaMania Lane at noon on Tuesday, March 16 and to visit the site during the following two months to view local artists as they create their designs.

Originally launched in 2002 as GuitarManiaŽ, an art project consisting of creatively painted and sculpted 10-foot-tall fiberglass models of Fender StratocasterŽ guitars, GuitarMania II, Encore in 2004, officially returns to the Cleveland scene beginning Memorial Day weekend. Designs will be on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum by at least 15 celebrity artists and more than 80 local artists, all of whom have an opportunity to showcase their talent, as well as the artistic excellence, musical heritage and diversity of the Greater Cleveland area.

The project is made possible by the generous sponsorship by corporations, organizations and individuals. Partners in the venture, in addition to United Way Services and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, include: Clear Channel Radio, cleveland.com, Continental Airlines, Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland, Fender Musical Instruments, Kaleidoscope Magazine, The Plain Dealer, Sherwin-Williams and Turner Construction.

So more citizens and visitors can enjoy them, the guitars will spend the summer at different locations throughout Greater Cleveland, especially downtown, including Tower City. The entire band will be at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum from Labor Day until they are auctioned off at a gala at the Rock Hall on November 6.

All proceeds of GuitarMania II, Encore in 2004, will benefit United Way Services and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum's education fund.

"Over and above the excitement of the event for the community and the access to many fine artists' work, in 2002, GuitarMania raised more than $1 million that was invested in our local community," said K. Michael Benz, president and CEO of United Way Services. "We expect that GuitarMania II, Encore in 2004, will generate even more enjoyment, plus additional funds for the community."

"As a dedicated supporter of United Way Services and the GuitarMania project, we are proud to dedicate GuitarMania Lane in Tower City, which is in the heart of the community," said Lisa Kreiger, senior marketing director for Tower City Center. "We invite the public to stop by and be part of this great project as it progresses."