Events

These are some of our grant-awarded projects and performances, as well as some of the community events in which FCAA participates.

Symphony Orchestra of North Georgia Youth Exhibition Concert

FoCAL Center

March 10, 2024

Art Honors Day 2024 was held on Feb. 6 at West Forsyth High School. Students got to experience special workshops ranging from raku pottery to polymer monotypes (printmaking).
Cast of Charlotte's Web are dressed in costumes and smiling as two people in front hold the large ceremonial check representing the $2000 grant award from the Forsyth County Arts Alliance

Congrats to Forsyth Central Stage at Forsyth Central High School for their Children’s World of Puppetry production of “Charlotte’s Web” Jan 24-27, 2024. Hundreds of kids from Forsyth Co. Schools as well as the general public got to enjoy this classic tale. Never has feeling so sad felt so good as “Charlotte’s Web!”

The 2024 Penguin Project production of “Finding Nemo, Jr.” was a huge hit at the FoCAL Center, during Feb. 18-21, with the final show topping over 1,200 people in attendance — the largest audience of ANY FoCAL Center show to date!

Congratulations to Bellissimo Theatre Company and the FoCAL Center on a wonderful collaborative production of Sweeney Todd. We were pleased to support this stunning run of shows during Oct 19-30, 2023, with a grant from our 2023 grant awards.

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two women, one wearing a hat and both smiling, stand at an informational table with clipboards on it
FCAA Exec. Dir. Ahna Phillips and volunteer Sushma Mohan enjoyed meeting fellow art lovers at the FCAA booth at the Cumming Art Fest, Oct 16-17, 2023. It’s a joy to serve in such a talented community!

A World of Art festival was a fun and educational experience for all who attended this event, organized by the Cumming Arts Center, on Sept 9, 2023. We proudly supported this event through a grant award.

We had a blast at Heart for the Arts 2023 on April 13, 2023! Thank you to everyone who attended, and a special shout-out to Legends Distillery in Cumming for donating the space for the second year in a row!

CUMMING ART FEST 2022

a long table with a white tablecloth on it, as well as papers and clipboards, with four people standing behind the table together, smiling
(l-r) FCAA Board member Derek Brooks, FCAA Executive Director Ahna Phillips, and FCAA Board members Linda Roberts-Betsch and Lynn Jackson

Sept. 17-18, 2022 — We loved meeting you at our booth at Cumming Art Fest in the new Cumming City Center, along with wonderful artists, food vendors, and live music.

HEART FOR THE ARTS 2022

Wide view of the room with a few dozen attendees focused on a speaker. There are paintings hanging all around the room.
We had a wonderful time at our Heart for the Arts night on April 28, 2022 at Legends Distillery in Cumming! Thank you to everyone who came to support the arts, and a big shout-out to Legends for donating the space!

More photos from Heart for the Arts 2022…

Attendees mix and mingle with the bourbon casks in the background and the garage door style opening up to let in the Spring air!
The FCAA table banner and the Legends vodka and bourbon bottles
Specialty bourbon box prize-winner Michael Van Osch
Attendees smile for the camera
Attendees smile for the camera

Along with our annual grant cycle, we help arts organizations increase their capacity by offering learning opportunities and networking events.

Budget and Finance for Arts Organizations workshop. People sit in chairs at tables facing the front where a screen shows charts and budget samples
Budget and Finance for Arts Organizations workshop

Past examples include:

  • Budget and Finance for Arts Organizations workshop led by CPA (and FCAA Board Member) Ann-Margaret Johnston
  • A networking lunch in partnership with Forsyth County Public Library, where attendees learned about the library’s Foundation Directory Online database to search for further grant funding opportunities
  • “FoCo Arts: Surviving and Thriving” virtual event to help arts organizations navigate the challenges of the pandemic 

We build relationships throughout Forsyth County area arts-oriented businesses and nonprofits to help our community’s arts providers grow their audience.

Three women, two with masks on, are smiling, with the steps of City Hall interior in the background
Oct. 2021 – FCAA Exec. Dir. Ahna Phillips (left) and 2021 Sawnee Association of the Arts Pres. Carole Kjellsen (right) witness the lease signing at City Hall in Cumming by Susan Barton (center) the owner of the forthcoming business, Muse Cabin. Muse Cabin will be a music and visual arts space at the new Cumming City Center – a welcome addition to the arts community in FoCo!