The Weyburn Performing Arts Centre Society has sold about 10 per cent of its tickets so far for their fund-raising fowl supper and Celtic music concert coming up on Thanksgiving weekend.

The thermometer sign on the front lawn of the Weyburn Comprehensive School was updated on Tuesday afternoon to reflect sales of around 215 so far, said society member Jeff Barber.

"We've got a very positive response from our ticket sellers, but we've found a lot of people don't make plans this early," he added, noting the event committee expects sales to pick up in the latter half of September.

The event will include several sittings for a turkey supper, billed as the World's Largest Fowl Supper by organizers, along with performances by the Maritimes' Celtic band, the Barra MacNeils, along with Squeeze of Scotch from Regina.

The promotional efforts will be increasing in the coming days and weeks, added society chairman Dave Craigen, with the provincial election now completed. Some of the sitting times are selling quite well, he said, such as the 6:15 time slot, while some of the earlier time slots seem to be working well for those travelling here from out of town.

Efforts are ongoing, meanwhile, to have a charitable number status from Revenue Canada in time to accept donations from those attending the fowl supper event, said Craigen.

The provincial government has recognized the group and granted it incorporation status, he said, which is not easy to get, but Revenue Canada has been vague in what they are requiring of the performing arts centre group. The proposed operating agreement may have to be altered due to one stipulation that the arts centre society cannot raise funds for a facility they own.

Work is ongoing to produce a model of the proposed performing arts centre, said Craigen, with plans to have it on display in the Comp at the courtyard so those attending the fowl supper can both see what the centre would like and where it would be located.

The purpose of the fowl supper is three-fold, explained Craigen. First the event is a fund-raiser for the centre; secondly, it is to raise public awareness about the centre and the need for such a facility in Weyburn; thirdly, the purpose is to provide government agencies an idea of the level of community support for the centre, a factor which is often vital in obtaining capital grants.

The society is also negotiating with the federal government's Industry Canada department on the advice of Heritage Canada officials, along with approaching three private foundations. A funding proposal will also be put together for Weyburn businesses, said Craigen, with different ways to recognize particular levels of financial support to be put in place.