The non-profit society working to have a new performing arts centre built at the Weyburn Comprehensive School is awaiting word on grant funding for its next step, constructing a model which members can use to help solicit governmental and corporate help.
The Performing Arts Centre Society's steering committee is also looking at possibly commissioning an artist's rendition of what the centre would look like from the outside, said chairman Dave Craigen. The purpose of the model and picture would be to help members in educating the public about the centre as well as when soliciting financial donations when the project moves into capital fund-raising.
The committee has applied for a grant from the Southeast Regional Economic Development Authority, which was approved locally but now needs approval from the provincial department.
The proposal for the centre is to have it built as part of the proposed merger of Southeast Regional College with the Comp, which is before the provincial Education department awaiting approval as a capital project.
The model would have a removable roof, and the main floor could be moved to show how the basement is to look, said Craigen. Once word is received on a grant to build the model, then the final touches will be put on the design before it's forwarded to the model-builders.
The committee hopes to be able to take the model around, such as to service clubs who invite them to come and speak. Craigen said the group hopes to be able to talk to those clubs who rent halls, such as the Legion, Elks or McKenna hall groups.
"We want to show that we're really not going to be competing with them. We'll put on conventions that they can't hold, bigger ones. We're not going after weddings or dances," said Craigen. So far, the committee has only spoken to the Weyburn Rotary Club. The committee also hopes to eventually have a permanent home for the model in a high-traffic area, such as at city hall or the Comprehensive School.
Members of the performing arts centre committee met with city council to give them an update on where the project is at, and to ask that the lines of communication be kept open.
The committee hasn't decided on how they would like the city involved, but noted they have no interest in building the centre, owning it or operating it, said Craigen. Through research into how other communities run similar facilities, the committee has found some municipal councils give certain tax exemptions or give grants-in-lieu of taxes.
"If you look at this as a service to the city, a legitimate service, then there should be some sort of participation by the city, not necessarily the owning of it. With some research and figuring out how the research can apply here, we'll have a unique management solution hopefully that will please as many people as possible," said Craigen.
In the meantime, some research is still coming in from communities which run similar school-based centres, this time from New Brunswick, and the sale of memberships in the Performing Arts Centre Society continue to be sold. The memberships, available from committee members, cost $20 each and are helping to fund some of the activities of the society, with some of the proceeds to help with the model and artist's rendition. There have been around 70 memberships sold so far.
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