The Weyburn Performing Arts Centre Society is in a bit of a holding pattern as they await word on grant applications - but society president Dave Craigen says that's not a bad thing right now.

The group submitted an application for a grant under the Centenary Grant Program introduced in the last provincial budget. The application was sent about three weeks ago, and a dialogue has begun to see if the grant could come through three departments: Education, Post-Secondary Education, and Municipal Affairs, through its cultural division.

The Weyburn group has been working to establish a new performing arts centre at the Weyburn Comprehensive School, using a fund of $200,000 provided by Education for use in either the centre or for a new band/choral room.

The government asked the group to scale the request over three years, but Craigen suggested taking a little bit from each of three departments instead, so no one area would be giving a large single grant for the project.

If the request is granted, said Craigen, they may be able to re-approach the federal department of Heritage and Culture under minister Sheila Copps to see if they would agree to match the provincial dollars.

"So it's a waiting game, because of the way government works," he said.

The society also held an update meeting recently with the city area school boards. Craigen said work is continuing on drafting the operating agreement between the performing arts society and the Comp school board, with some outstanding issues left to be resolved, such as caretaking and sharing electrical costs.

The current board feels it might be best to wait for the municipal and school board elections in October, so a definitive relationship might be arranged with the new board members and new city council.

"It's a delay we can afford, because we have to wait while the government looks at our grant application," said Craigen.