Though tutus are not uncommon at most ballet studios, this particular bunch, in addition to boxes of other costumes, were purchased through a Forsyth County Arts Alliance grant.
"Buying tutus for dancers is very expensive," said Raymond Joyner, theater president. "Any kind of funding we can get in to help us defray cost is important, since we are a nonprofit organization."
The theater is just one of seven organizations that split $50,000 worth of grant money from the alliance in January.
The alliance will again give grant money to fund local arts programs in January 2009, and while applications for funding aren't due until Sept. 19, the organization is already offering grant application assistance.
The free workshop will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. July 11, featuring a class on applying for arts alliance funding, and a class on "securing grant funds for your arts organization."
"We want to broaden the range of opportunity so more organizations can be trained in the grant writing process, and also apply for our grant," said Jennifer Caracciolo, alliance board president.
"The training not only benefits them in applying for our grant, but it helps them go out and apply for more grants for funding."
The alliance was created from the sale of the Sawnee Center to the county. While the center was once used to promote arts in the community, the alliance received $2 million in the sale.
The initial $2 million is not being spent, as it is being invested in the North Georgia Community Fund. The alliance's grant money is given based on the interest earned from the investment.
In addition to new tutus and costumes for the ballet theater, several schools, the Sounds of Sawnee Concert Band, the county's park and recreation department and the North Georgia Symphony were among those to receive funding.
As a result, the Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Department was able to present the Art in the Park Festival, the symphony has and will continue to perform in the community and children who otherwise couldn't afford it are playing instruments.
"I didn't know how expensive the instruments were," said Caracciolo. "To know there were actually some students out there that couldn't participate in the arts ... and that now they are financially able to do what they love, means a lot."
The funding also helped start an arts awareness project, placing 25 giant painted fiberglass eggs throughout the community to increase awareness of the arts in the county.
"That's art in your face every day," said Caracciolo. "That just shows the diversity that the funds are reaching. They're reaching students and they're also reaching the greater community -- those that live here and those that just drive through here."