Augusta Mini Theatre's new facility means more than new opportunities for students thirsty for the arts.

It means Augusta's moving up, said Tyrone Butler, the founder and executive director of the Augusta Mini Theatre Community Arts School.

"I'm confident that this building will take us to the next level," Mr. Butler said. "The students are already inspired, but when they see the building they'll really believe they can accomplish their dreams."

Mr. Butler said he is excited to offer more services to students at the new facility, scheduled to have its grand opening Oct. 2. The new school, at 2548 Deans Bridge Road, boasts a homework lab, five piano labs, and dance, art and drama studios, he said. Because of financial limitations, the school has not offered art or dance in more than 10 years.

Mr. Butler and his staff are moving from their former location on Eighth Street to the $2.3 million, 9,300 square-foot facility, he said. The building was financed through $450,000 from the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, but most of the multimillion-dollar project was funded by local donors, Mr. Butler said.

The building has been years in the making, he said.

In 1975, Mr. Butler, a recent Albany State University grad, wanted to start his career as a singer, so he held talent shows at the Wallace Branch Library, inviting other youths to show their skills.

He began to realize that there was a need for an artistic outlet for youths of color in Augusta.

"I grew up in a segregated Augusta, so if those programs existed and were available, we didn't know about them," he said. "Many of the students hadn't ever seen a dance studio."

Mr. Butler eventually joined forces with Ernestine Robinson and Judith Simon, who would later become his wife. Their goal was to provide music, art, drama and dance to low-income youths ages 6 to 18 no matter what the sacrifice, Mr. Butler said.

"We would go as long as a year not getting paid sometimes, because we knew the Mini Theatre had to come first," he said.

Stephanie Jones benefited from their sacrifices, she said. The former Mini Theatre student said the lessons learned at the arts school are invaluable. She studied piano and ballet there at age 12.

"They provided an opportunity to give discipline of a craft, but also helped develop life skills to not only survive but excel in life," said Ms. Jones, now a city attorney for Augusta. "The opportunity for a student to go there is a tremendous one."

Mr. Butler said the search has begun for volunteers to teach acting, art, dance and music classes, which will begin in February. For now, Mr. Butler said he will continue to raise money to support the school.

"We had to struggle to generate dollars, and the struggle is still here," he said. "But now we can look at this building and say, we're glad we sacrificed. That's worth more than all the money in the world."