The papers have been signed, the keys have changed hands and now the dust needs to be shaken from the Turnage Theater. Beaufort County Arts Council Executive Director Joey Toler is inviting anyone who wants to help shine the place up for a day of dusting and vacuuming, mopping and sorting this Saturday.

Starting at 9 a.m., the theater will be open to, hopefully, an army of volunteers come to sweep away two years worth of dust, Toler said.

“As you can imagine, any space that has been left alone for that amount of time needs some attention,” Toler said. “There is a lot to be done—dressing rooms, bathrooms, the catering kitchen, windows, the outside façade—you name it, it needs some TLC.”

Toler hopes to have a checklist of things to be done posted in each area so volunteers can manage the effort and the work will move along efficiently.

“I know the work will go quickly if everyone is clear about what needs to be done. My goal is to avoid chaos,” he said.

While there will be some cleaning products onsite, Toler is hoping volunteers will be bringing their own. Cleaning cloths, rags, mops, buckets, paper towels, spray cleaners and even vacuums are among Toler’s wish list for cleanup day.

The effort is in preparation for the arts council’s move to the early 20^th century theater in November.

Btu the effort is also a way to open on a different note — an invitation to anyone and everyone who wants to participate. The cost, only a little sweat equity.

“We’re inviting anyone in the community, regardless of whether they’re an arts council member or not. We want to meet people. We really want everyone to feel welcome in this theater,” Toler said. “That’s kind of what the arts council brings to the Turnage: we’ve always been known as an organization that works with a broad cross-section of the community and that is what we’re taking with us when we make this move.”

Toler said he’s counting on more hands will make for less work Saturday and hoping the bulk of the work can be done in three to four hours. He plans to close “Community Cleanup Day” done at 3 p.m.

But an investment of a few hours and a little labor in the Turnage, will pay off for all volunteers, according to Toler.

“You know, if you come out and put a little sweat into it, you’re going to have some ownership in the theater and what takes place there,” he said.